Band Leader Keys & Vocals
Of all the musicians that ever played with Wadadli Experience band, none has a more significant and profound influence of the group like Mykal Kumasi Jones (AKA The Doc). Kumasi joined the band with Kwesi as a lead guitarist and didn't take long for him to earn respect.
Everyone knew that Kwesi was one of the missing Ingredient once he starts playing the flute, because it added a unique flavor that was consciously absent from the sound before, but no one knew or ever imagined that Kumasi would become the central and most important ingredient in the mixture.
When Kumasi joined the band, he was a young aspirating musician influenced by the conscious music of Bob Marley and other artists from Jamaica, but he was an outstanding bass player in Ebonites Steel band and had acquired substantial musical knowledge before joining the Wadadli band.
It won't be an overstatement to call Kumasi the General of Wadadli Band, he has a soldier mentality he probably got as a member of the Antigua Grammar School Cadets, but he is fearless, confident and mystic. The skills-set Kumasi brought to the band was unmatched, and not just musically.
Referred to as the Doc, Kumasi is a sophisticated, meticulous, and talented musician born for the stage. It didn't take long for the rest of the guys to realize they were stars orbiting a sun, Kumasi's Influence was powerful, that by 1975 he became the chosen leader of the band.
Wadadli Experience became a legally registered music production company in Antigua in 1976, and with Kumasi, at the helm, nothing was going to stop the group. Kumasi was the inspiration, motivation, and commander who trained the soldiers and led them into battle and they fought many.
Coming from the Steel band environment Kumasi was always a fierce and formidable competitor revered by his pares, and there are a lot of people in Antigua today who can attest to that. He is a man of many talents and views every encounter as a challenge, and Kumasi is a warrior, he never backs down.
Kumasi's vision, philosophy, and musical ability are the combined attributes that defined Wadadli Experience band. No band member before or after contributed as much and had any impact on the group like Kumasi, he's patient, strategic and methodical in his approach and execution of a mission
.Kumasi tutored the band, arranged the music, instilled order and discipline, motivated and inspired confidence in musicians, and together, they took on every challenge, removed all barriers, and earned the respect they deserved from Governor Generals, Police, Army, government, and society.