12/07/2025
This is lovely.
🎻 Last night, we honoured a living legend.
At the Grand Opening Gala of the Tobago Heritage Festival 2025, Mr. Lawrence “Wax” Crooks was presented with a portrait of himself a tribute to his outstanding contribution to Tobago’s musical and cultural heritage. 🖼️✨
A Tobago-born musician whose journey began at just eight years old on the steelpan, Mr. Crooks mastered a range of instruments including the bass guitar, keyboard, violin, clarinet, and percussion. His deep commitment to preserving indigenous sounds, especially Tambrin and folk music, led him to study violin and refine its sound for modern audiences.
“I want a cleaner sound,” he once said. “The older folks used to fiddle around with the notes… I am more precise in my playing. I try to give the note for note.”
A founding member of the beloved band Royal Sweet Fingers, Mr. Crooks has been the musical backbone of the Tobago Heritage Festival for years, bringing life to traditional dances like the brush back and jig.
We salute you, Mr. Crooks. Your music is memory, rhythm, and legacy. 🎶🕊️
📸 Portraits produced by Island Vision Creative
