In 2005 Merle and I attended the Edmonton Folk Music Festival. That was the year that Danny Michel won the award for the best new performer at the Festival. We were certainly impressed with him: he wrote most of the material he performed, he looked like and sounded like Paul Simon.
Merle was listening to an interview with Danny on CBC just before I left for Belize in 2011. He explained how he did most of his recording in Belize, working with local musicians and children’s choirs; at this time virtually everything he recorded was composed by him.
I went to his website and was very impressed by his music and videos, all created in Belize.
Ocean Academy was
founded in 2008 the first community-based high school on Caye Caulker (the only high school at that time). I spent some time with Joni Miller, the Principal and one of three founders of this school. They did not receive any money from government and were relying on contributions. Music was one of many subjects taught.
While I was in Belize I noticed that Danny Michel was playing in several locations in Belize and that he would be touring in Canada after that. After I returned home I sent an e-mail to many of our contacts in Belize and to the Rotarians on the District Belize Project Committee. I suggested that they may want to attend one of these concerts since Michel was Canadian and was creating great music with the local people and taking it throughout our two countries.
When Joni Miller received my e-mail she contacted Danny in Belize and asked if he would like to visit Ocean Academy to see what they were doing. He came – and he stayed for two weeks, the beginning of a wonderful cooperative effort. He decided that this would be one of his main fund-raising efforts. He and his fans contribute regularly to O. Academy. Since 2011 they have contributed more than $70,000 US.
The school is now doing well.
I had not met Danny in Belize so when St. Albert was one his concert list Merle and I went with Bill and Keatha to his performance. I introduced myself to him in the lobby after the concert.
‘I’m Jerome Martin, Danny.’
'Ah, you’re the guy who sent that e-mail’ he said.
We had a good chat. Merle, Keatha and Bill loved his music (he had several Belize musicians with him that night).