Tombstone International
“No Weapon That Form Against Thee Shall Prosper...”
Isaiah 54:17
In the summer of 1992, four high school kids, out of the town of Sandy Point from the then 64 square mile island of St. Kitts, discussed the thoughts of creating a sound under a little galvanize shed on the block which they all grew up on. The four troublesome junior high school kids known as Kurt ‘Benji’ Benjamin, Calvert ‘Zumie’ Caines, Brandon Rawlins and brother Sheldon ‘Buff’ Rawlins took the initiative and began collecting equipment and music to build and become a killer sound, that would later be the number one sound in St. Kitts and look to conquer the entire Caribbean. They all contemplated on the name of the sound, and eventually all agreed on the name ‘Tombstone Sounds’, and immediately began on their journey by playing for block parties, house parties, birthday parties and small bashments in their town way out in the country. They then began to further build the sound by upgrading their system and music, moving from speakers that were built in a bucket and two small 6 inch record players to a more suitable system and began to collect infectious reggae and dancehall riddims which now would be known as old school hits.
These four high school students would then move on to higher heights and spread their passionate love for music to the masses by playing for bashments in the capital and other country areas of the island. Not a weekend would pass without the sound dj-ing for some crazy dance, small queen show pageants and even church events, but these four guys were determined to make it as the number one sound, but decided they would finish high school and then become more serious about ‘the business’ as they would call it.
“SQUEEZE!” Zumie would scream over the microphone as Benji would play the next riddim track that would cause the entire crowd to flash lighters and pound on their surroundings, bringing excitement and hype to every and any place that they played to. The high school graduates would then move on and become more serious, linking up with the islands Mix-Master known as Ronnie Rascal and become the islands first and deadliest collaboration showing great versatility by playing reggae, dancehall, soca, zuok, roots and culture, and R&B, and altering the name of the sound to ‘Tombstone International, and further show that they were poised and ready to be at the top of ‘the business’.
In 2000 the sound would expand and add other elements to their arsenal by recruiting two young prodigies namely Shane ‘Witty’ Whittaker and Marvin ‘Woodis’ Lewis to the sound. Marvin would become the man in the forefront, using his wild and outrageous mic chatting skills to entertain crowds to create an atmosphere making a way for the well blended and unique mixing of new DJ and selector Shane. Still at the top the sound would go on to play alongside other top sounds and dj’s throughout the Caribbean including Stone Love, Black Chiney, Mighty Crown, Fire Links, Stone Wall and Poison Dart.
In September 2005, Shane enrolled into St. Mary’s University in Halifax and has further kept the belief of being the top sound, and will continue to do his best to bring his love for music to the masses all by the grace of god.
