Born Elmer Nigel Dennis Beckley initial E.N.D signifies the last of five children. Elmer was born into a musical family much influenced by his mother Elme who not only played the Guitar but the Banjo and Ukulele. " I would sit and watch as a kid whilst my mum in her happy moments, strummed the Guitar or twanged the Banjo whichever takes her fancy" and there was the most beautiful of pianos sitting in the living room no other make than a John BroadWood, bought in 1932 by his dad.
Each child was given the opportunity to learn the pianoforte and the rudiments of music, some like the eldest sister excelled to a much higher-grade whist the others were just happy to `touch play`. The person, who excelled most, was Zuzel his eldest brother whose footsteps Elmer chose to follow.
Being a professional musician was not the favoured choice of his family; one was expected to choose a profession most fitting to the education and expectations as directed by his parents. As such Elmer and his elder brother Zuzel, were allowed to play the piano only after all school homework was completed and on good behaviour days, at all other times the piano remained shut. Aged 13yrs, Elmer got fed up with this routine and decided to switch over to guitar very much portable. "I owe my playing to Len Jones, whose parents views on music was quite the opposite of mine." Len had a new guitar bought for him nearly every other birthday it appeared. On one occasion Elmer bought one of Len's guitar home and hid it under his bed, locked in his room he would mess about with this instrument until his dad found out that the usually boisterous Elmer went quiet on certain days even though he hasn't taken ill. With the discovery of this instrument under his bed he was given the ultimatum to return it to its owner or had it destroyed. Too late, the love affair with this beautiful and portable instrument had begun and grew ever stronger.
Elmer's attendance at his new secondary school - The Prince of Wales, began to suffer. He was regularly late for classes much to the amazement of his parents who had bought him a bicycle expressly for the purpose of getting to school on time yet his attendances became worse. It came to light that a block of rented apartments leading into the school compound was the residence of one of the country's top bands, encouraged by the lead guitarist Freddie Greene locally known as Dr.Freddie, Elmer was being taught the guitar, spending school time with his mentor as a budding guitarist instead of preparing for higher education. Having discovered this was the case; his parents immediately removed him from that scene sending him up the provinces many miles away from the city and into a Boarding School hoping that would be the end of his music apprenticeship.
This was not the case, because away from the watchful eyes of his parents and guardian, he became even more involved with other musicians who would enlist him in their bands during the school holiday breaks. Listening to Elmer playing any of Carlos Santana's songs would be hard to tell the difference, and the nickname `Santigi` became his title. Santigi is a genuine tribal name much revered by the Temne tribe in that part of the province and favoured by the locals for a first-born male child in the family. His four year stay in the District of Tonkolili not only taught him the survival skills necessary for someone born to travel, it did not prevent him either from gaining the necessary qualifications expected of him. Tigi finished his higher education, and even went on to graduate as a Teacher of fine Arts, Sculpture and Ceramics and still maintaining his reputation as one of Sierra Leone's most accomplished musician. Asked why he never went on to do a degree in music, Elmer would always say " It's a long story, read it in my autobiography sometime when it's published ".
Gary Button, the American Vibraphone jazz player, then lecturer at Berk lee College of Music was never given an explanation as to Tigi`s non attendance in his class of 1971 even though his fees and accommodation had been paid though not by his parents.
Elmer got married and travelled to the UK in 1983, a jack of all trades, having served briefly as a Police Officer, learnt to fly light aircrafts, he continued performing as a session musician clocking up tremendous amount of hours in Eddy Grant's The Beehive Recording Studio in the North of London. His keyboard and guitar playing could be heard on a number of reggae; pop and Afro funk Hits of that time.
Following the passing away of his elder brother Zuzel and his most loving sister Zuzella, Elmer moved to East Sussex. For the next three years, he couldn't bring himself to go near let alone play any of his musical instruments being so deeply affected by this loss. However, having attained the necessary skills and training, he instead served for many years in the Civil Service and with the help of friends, gradually got back into playing. Elmer is now retired, and is currently an appointed Civilian Instructor with the R.A.F Air Training Corpse with plenty of time to be involved with recording, performing and producing in his recording studio.
" I may be a jack of all trades," he says " but I am definitely a master of one"
Tribute song dedicated to Zuzel and Zuzella
You are gone but not forgotten.
Tigi Elmer B.
Each child was given the opportunity to learn the pianoforte and the rudiments of music, some like the eldest sister excelled to a much higher-grade whist the others were just happy to `touch play`. The person, who excelled most, was Zuzel his eldest brother whose footsteps Elmer chose to follow.
Being a professional musician was not the favoured choice of his family; one was expected to choose a profession most fitting to the education and expectations as directed by his parents. As such Elmer and his elder brother Zuzel, were allowed to play the piano only after all school homework was completed and on good behaviour days, at all other times the piano remained shut. Aged 13yrs, Elmer got fed up with this routine and decided to switch over to guitar very much portable. "I owe my playing to Len Jones, whose parents views on music was quite the opposite of mine." Len had a new guitar bought for him nearly every other birthday it appeared. On one occasion Elmer bought one of Len's guitar home and hid it under his bed, locked in his room he would mess about with this instrument until his dad found out that the usually boisterous Elmer went quiet on certain days even though he hasn't taken ill. With the discovery of this instrument under his bed he was given the ultimatum to return it to its owner or had it destroyed. Too late, the love affair with this beautiful and portable instrument had begun and grew ever stronger.
Elmer's attendance at his new secondary school - The Prince of Wales, began to suffer. He was regularly late for classes much to the amazement of his parents who had bought him a bicycle expressly for the purpose of getting to school on time yet his attendances became worse. It came to light that a block of rented apartments leading into the school compound was the residence of one of the country's top bands, encouraged by the lead guitarist Freddie Greene locally known as Dr.Freddie, Elmer was being taught the guitar, spending school time with his mentor as a budding guitarist instead of preparing for higher education. Having discovered this was the case; his parents immediately removed him from that scene sending him up the provinces many miles away from the city and into a Boarding School hoping that would be the end of his music apprenticeship.
This was not the case, because away from the watchful eyes of his parents and guardian, he became even more involved with other musicians who would enlist him in their bands during the school holiday breaks. Listening to Elmer playing any of Carlos Santana's songs would be hard to tell the difference, and the nickname `Santigi` became his title. Santigi is a genuine tribal name much revered by the Temne tribe in that part of the province and favoured by the locals for a first-born male child in the family. His four year stay in the District of Tonkolili not only taught him the survival skills necessary for someone born to travel, it did not prevent him either from gaining the necessary qualifications expected of him. Tigi finished his higher education, and even went on to graduate as a Teacher of fine Arts, Sculpture and Ceramics and still maintaining his reputation as one of Sierra Leone's most accomplished musician. Asked why he never went on to do a degree in music, Elmer would always say " It's a long story, read it in my autobiography sometime when it's published ".
Gary Button, the American Vibraphone jazz player, then lecturer at Berk lee College of Music was never given an explanation as to Tigi`s non attendance in his class of 1971 even though his fees and accommodation had been paid though not by his parents.
Elmer got married and travelled to the UK in 1983, a jack of all trades, having served briefly as a Police Officer, learnt to fly light aircrafts, he continued performing as a session musician clocking up tremendous amount of hours in Eddy Grant's The Beehive Recording Studio in the North of London. His keyboard and guitar playing could be heard on a number of reggae; pop and Afro funk Hits of that time.
Following the passing away of his elder brother Zuzel and his most loving sister Zuzella, Elmer moved to East Sussex. For the next three years, he couldn't bring himself to go near let alone play any of his musical instruments being so deeply affected by this loss. However, having attained the necessary skills and training, he instead served for many years in the Civil Service and with the help of friends, gradually got back into playing. Elmer is now retired, and is currently an appointed Civilian Instructor with the R.A.F Air Training Corpse with plenty of time to be involved with recording, performing and producing in his recording studio.
" I may be a jack of all trades," he says " but I am definitely a master of one"
Tribute song dedicated to Zuzel and Zuzella
You are gone but not forgotten.
Tigi Elmer B.
Gone but never forgotten
May your souls R.I.P
May your souls R.I.P
[
The Grand Master Pianist
' Chalie Kunz '
Zuzel Galver Beckley R.I.P
24th March 1944 - 1988
The Grand Master Pianist
' Chalie Kunz '
Zuzel Galver Beckley R.I.P
24th March 1944 - 1988
Zuzella Pearl Beckley R.I.P
24th March 1944 - 1987
24th March 1944 - 1987
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Recording Studio (RTM)
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Sax Serenade (c)
Composed arranged and recorded at Manpuss Studio (RT) 1999
Composed arranged and recorded at Manpuss Studio (RT) 1999
My Brother
My Sister
