PROFILE. THE BAREFOOT MAN
About the article
This is a digitised version of an article from The Cayman Compass's print archive. Occasionally, the digitisation process introduces transcription errors, or other problems.
See the article in its original context from March 1976.
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Sandy-haired, German-born Barefoot, as he refers to himself, virtually dominates the entertainment scene on Grand Cayman. He enjoys the closest thing to "star status" available here--a fact of which he is he not reluctant to remind you.
He has worked as a professional entertainer since he was 16 playing country music (he grew up in North Carolina) and has been on Cayman for the last six years. As well as a featured performer, Barefoot has made a name for himself as an aggressive promoter, starting the first recordcompany on Cayman and signing up five local artistes, encouraging them to tour and record with him.
He has already released four of his own albums distributing them in the U.S., Canada and Europe. A prolific writer he composed such numbers as the "Bank Song," Cayman Cowboy" (for Andy Martin), and "Fire for you".
Although he specialized in calypso, he is recognised for his versatility in music, performing country, pop and reggae. Barefoot plans to take his show, including his band and other local entertainment, the road for a return engagement to Chicago and to Belize and North Carolina this year.
A minor skirmish with immigration officials in the U.S. last fall caused fans to wonder whether his bare feet would end up in ball and chains. Mimicking one of the great American wartime generals, Barefoot swore, “I shall return." And return he did--to audiences more enthusiastic than ever.
But even the puckish Barefoot Man realizes that. times can change, so he bought some land on Little Cayman and plans to move there some day, build a few cottages and perhaps a small lounge once that island develops. Meanwhile, Cayman's own version of Peter Pan continues to "pack 'em in" at Dave Mitchell's Galleon Beach, delighting tourists and residents alike who seem never to get enough.
