Aunt Julia turns 103 years old

Cayman’s national musical treasure Julia Hydes celebrated her 103rd birthday Wednesday evening with scores of her closest friends, family, fans and admirers. 

They threw a big party with music, fellowship and plenty of laughter at the Harquail Theatre for Ms Hydes, known affectionately throughout the Cayman Islands as Aunt Julia. 

This was the third time the annual Julia Hydes Gospel Fest has been held to mark the birthday of the famous West Bayer. 

For decades, Aunt Julia has been at the forefront of the traditional Caymanian music scene. Two years ago, at the tender age of 101, her music featured on the album, Traditional Music of the Cayman Islands, along with the tunes of legendary fiddler Radley Gourzong and his band The Happy Boys. 

The matriarch of the Hydes family, Aunt Julia started playing the drums when she was 14. During her career as Cayman’s pre-eminent percussionist, she has been honoured with lifetime achievement awards from several local organisations, including the Cayman National Cultural Foundation. 

Nowadays, she can still be heard live at special events, playing her iconic home-made drum and singing her songs that recall the Cayman of old. 

During the festivities Wednesday evening, her children, grandchildren, great grandchildren and great-great grandchildren posed for photos with her, including little Alexia Hydes, who at 1 is 102 younger than her great-great grandmother. 

Her cousin Captain Marvin Ebanks, 95, also arrived to give her birthday greetings. 

Wednesday night’s gospel fest celebration included praise choruses led by the Barnett Family Ensemble and Pastor Alson Ebanks sang, “It’s not over till it’s over”, a song he wrote and dedicated to his great aunt. 

Loxley Banks was the master of ceremony for the memorable evening at which education minister Rolston Anglin delivered a tribute to the famed drummer and singer, and her grandson Mark Hydes read a citation to mark the great lady’s birthday from Premier McKeeva Bush. Reina Jefferson also paid a special tribute to Aunt Julia. 

Cayman’s most famous centenarian also gave a special performance for the guests, treating them to a folk song and some gospel songs. 

For anyone who wants to see and hear her play, just visit the Cayman Islands Museum in George Town which displays a video of her singing and playing her drum.