Eddy DeMello was a popular Bermudian entrepreneur, businessman, music promoter, record label owner and record producer. He has also made a notable contribution to the

garage rock Garage rock (sometimes called garage punk or 60s punk) is a raw and energetic style of rock and roll that flourished in the mid-1960s, most notably in the United States and Canada, and has experienced a series of subsequent revivals. The sty ...

genre.

Background

He was born Manuel Edward DeMello on November 10, 1937, in

São Miguel Island São Miguel Island (; Portuguese language, Portuguese for "Saint Michael"), nicknamed "The Green Island" (''Ilha Verde''), is the largest and most populous island in the Portugal, Portuguese archipelago of the Azores. The island covers and has a ...

Azores ) , motto =( en, "Rather die free than subjected in peace") , anthem= ( en, "Anthem of the Azores") , image_map=Locator_map_of_Azores_in_EU.svg , map_alt=Location of the Azores within the European Union , map_caption=Location of the Azores wi ...

Portugal Portugal, officially the Portuguese Republic ( pt, República Portuguesa, links=yes ), is a country whose mainland is located on the Iberian Peninsula of Southwestern Europe, and whose territory also includes the Atlantic archipelagos of ...

. He came to Bermuda in September 1949. As well as a prominent businessman, he has been described as an entertainment impresario, and longtime champion of Bermuda's Portuguese community. His involvement in the music business included being a record store owner and record production. He was one Bermuda's most successful concert promoters.''Bermuda Sun'', Friday, March 8, 2013
Music man takes final bow
''Tribute / Manuel Edward 'Eddy' DeMello
(November 10, 1937 - March 6, 2013)''
/ref> His store was the Music Box on Reid Street. For seventeen years he was president of the Vasco da Gama Club. For his work and contribution to Bermuda's music and art he was awarded the Bermuda Arts Council's Lifetime Achievement in 2004.Bermuda Attractions

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Record labels and production

Starting in the 1960s, he produced many recordings that appeared his Duane and Edmar record labels. One album was ''

Live 'n Wild ''Live 'N Wild'' is a live album released in 1966 by The Savages (Bermuda band), The Savages, a garage rock band from Bermuda, which was recorded live at the Hub, a nightclub at the Princess Hotel in their native country. Consisting of mostly s ...

'' by The Savages which is now considered a

collectors piece. Other artists he produced were The Gents with their garage punk classic, "If You Don’t Come Back". Other groups include The Weads, The Bermuda Strollers and The Klan. He also designed and provided the liner notes for the ''Beautiful Bermuda'' album by

The Merrymen The Merrymen, sometimes written as The MerryMen, are a popular calypso band from Barbados. The Merrymen's career spans five decades, from the early-1960s to the 2000s. The Merrymen are still performing as of 2011. At their height they were popu ...

. Duane is the name of DeMello's son.

Duane Records

Artists to have releases on his Duane label include Bishop Kane, The Savages, Silvertones, and The Weads.

Promotion

DeMello brought The Merrymen to Bermuda where they spent six weeks. This resulted in a friendship between him and the group which lasted for years. Among the artists that DeMello was instrumental in bringing to Bermuda were

Ray Charles Ray Charles Robinson Sr. (September 23, 1930 – June 10, 2004) was an American singer, songwriter, and pianist. He is regarded as one of the most iconic and influential singers in history, and was often referred to by contemporaries as "The Ge ...

Stevie Wonder Stevland Hardaway Morris ( Judkins; May 13, 1950), known professionally as Stevie Wonder, is an American singer-songwriter, who is credited as a pioneer and influence by musicians across a range of genres that include rhythm and blues, Pop musi ...

and

Amalia Rodrigues Amalia may refer to: People *Amalia (given name), feminine given name (includes a list of people so named) *Princess Amalia (disambiguation), several princesses with this name Films and television series * ''Amalia'' (1914 film), the first ...

Death

Following a long illness, DeMello died on March 6, 2013, at the age of 75.'' The Royal Gazette'', March 7, 2013
Promoter DeMello dies at 75 By Gareth Finighan
/ref>

References

External links

''Bernews'': Beloved Impresario Eddy DeMello Dies At 75

Discogs Edmar label

Discogs Edmar Records label

Discogs: Eddy De Mello Productions
{{DEFAULTSORT:DeMello, Eddy 1937 births 2013 deaths Portuguese emigrants to Bermuda Bermudian businesspeople