McKay moved to New York City at the age of 17 to study architecture. In 1969 McKay launched the group "Exuma" with his then-partner and lifelong friend Sally O'Brien. He enlisted several musician friends, forming his backup band, the Junk Band. The band included O'Brien (as Princess Sally), Bogie, Lord Wellington, Villy, Spy Boy Thielheim, Mildred Vaney, Frankie Gearing, Diana Claudia Bunea (as Princess Diana), and his good friend Peppy Castro (Emil Thielhelm, lead singer of the Blues Magoos).
By the 1980s McKay had moved to New Orleans and was a regular at the New Orleans Jazz & Heritage Festival.
Over the years the group Exuma played and / or toured with Patti LaBelle, Curtis Mayfield, Rita Marley, Peter Tosh, Toots & the Maytals, Sly and the Family Stone, Steppenwolf, Black Flag and the Neville Brothers. Numerous artists performed on his recordings and in his stage shows.
After growing up on Cat Island, Tony McKay moved to New York City at the age of 17 to study architecture. However, he did not complete his studies and soon entered the music industry in a group called Tony McKay and the Islanders. In New York's 1960s Greenwich Village folk scene McKay often found himself performing with such greats as Bob Dylan, Richie Havens, Jimi Hendrix, and Barbra Streisand among others.
He soon gained the attention of Blues Magoos manager Bob Wyld. Wyld brought McKay to Mercury Records and convinced them to sign him. In 1970 McKay, now redubbed Exuma, released the albums Exuma and Exuma II. From those albums he released the singles "Exuma, The Obeah Man", "Junkanoo", "Damn Fool", and "Zandoo". Exuma also garnered recognition for his song "You Don't Know What's Going On", which was featured on the soundtrack to John G. Avilsen's 1970 film Joe starring Peter Boyle, Susan Sarandon, and Dennis Patrick.
Exuma left Mercury in 1971 to sign with the Kama Sutra label, where he released the albums Do Wah Nanny (1971), Snake (1972), Reincarnation (1972), and Life (1973). From these albums he released the singles "Do Wah Nanny", "The Bowery", "Brown Girl", "Rushing Through the Crowd", and a cover of Paul McCartney's "Monkberry Moon Delight". After low sales and seeking the freedom of independence, Exuma was no longer featured on a major record label for the rest of his career. He released Penny Sausage, Going to Cat Island, Universal Exuma and Street Life in the early 1980s, but none of these albums received much exposure.By this time, Exuma was enjoying his greatest recognition. In the Bahamas, he even scored two hit singles, "Shirlene" and "Rose Mary Smith." He had moved to New Orleans and was a regular at the New Orleans Jazz and Heritage festival. He performed regularly at the Old Absinthe Bar. These nights could become jam sessions, as he had a habit of starting songs that were not in the set list and he still attracted great musicians, such as Bill Wyman and Bob Dylan's backing band. In 1986 under the ROIR label, Exuma released Rude Boy, which garnered slightly more attention and featured songs from some of his previous 1980s releases.
Over the years Exuma has played and/or toured with Patti LaBelle, Curtis Mayfield, Rita Marley, Peter Tosh, Toots & the Maytals, Sly and the Family Stone, Steppenwolf, Black Flag and the Neville Brothers. Exuma was even recognised by Queen Elizabeth II in 1978 when she awarded him the British Empire Medal for his contributions to Bahamian culture.
In the late 1980s, Exuma suffered a mild heart attack, and thus devoted much more of his time to painting, his other great talent. His paintings have been exhibited several times and collected by many art lovers. Never abandoning his music however, he still wrote and performed his original music. He continued to perform at the New Orleans Jazz Festival until 1991. The last years of his life saw him splitting his time between Miami, Florida and Nassau, in a house that his mother had left him. He died in his sleep in 1997.
Professor and fellow Bahamian Alfred M. Sears stated that Exuma was "A Bahamian visionary, humanistic philosopher and people's poet. Exuma gives expression to the beauty and power of the cultural life of the Bahamas - the people's every day experiences, folklore, myths, stories, junkanoo, rake and scrape, pain, joy, struggle and survival. His life and art reflect the wonderful cultural heritage and personality of Bahamians, drawing on the roots of Africa and the branches of the Amerindians, Europeans and Americans."[2]
Tony McKay had many children including Gavin, Kenyatta, Acklins and Jahleena. His first son, Shaw and his mother, "Sammy" were murdered in the early 1970s in New York's Lower East Side. Both Acklins and Kenyatta Alisha are vocal artists, carrying on the tradition of their father through their individual genres.
Exuma The Obeah Man
Exuma Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
nine months in my Mama's belly
When I was born the midwife
screamed and shout
I had fire and brimstone
coming out of my mouth
I'm Exuma, I'm The Obeah Man
Exuma was my name when I lived in the stars
Exuma was a planet that once lit Mars,
I've got the voice of many in my throat
The teeth of a frog and the tail of a goat
I'm Exuma, I'm The Obeah Man
When I've got my big hat on my head
You know that I can raise the dead
When I got my stick in my hand
You know that I am The Obeah Man
If you got a woman and she ain't happy
Come see me for camalame
Take that camalame and you make her some tea
and she will love you all the time
And when she got you running
like a train on a track
take some flour and you make some pap
that will give you strength in your back
I'm Exuma, I'm The Obeah Man
I've sailed with Charon, day and night
I've walked with Hougaman, Hector Hippolite
Obeah, Obeah, Obeah, Obeah's in me
I drank the water from the firery sea
I'm Exuma, I'm The Obeah Man
Tony McKay was my given name
given on Cat island when my mother felt the pain.
Creatures of the Earth, Space, Sea, and Land,
I'm Exuma, I'm The Obeah Man
I'm Exuma, I'm The Obeah Man
The lyrics to the song "Exuma The Obeah Man" by Exuma are a powerful depiction of the artist's identity and abilities as an Obeah man. The first verse describes the unusual nature of his birth, implying that he is not an ordinary human being. The midwife's reaction to his birth suggests that she sensed something powerful and supernatural about him. The image of fire and brimstone coming out of his mouth implies that his words and voice are imbued with great force.
In the following verses, Exuma explains his background and powers. He claims that his name comes from a planet called Exuma that once lit Mars, and that he has the voice of many in his throat, as well as the teeth of a frog and the tail of a goat. These strange physical attributes suggest that he is a being of great magical power, with connections to ancient mythology and folklore.
Exuma goes on to describe his abilities as an Obeah man, including his capacity to raise the dead and heal unhappy relationships. He suggests that he can make a potent camalame tea that will make any woman love her partner, and that eating pap made with flour will give one strength in their back. He also references his encounters with mythical beings such as Charon and Hector Hippolite, as well as his connection to the powerful and mysterious force of Obeah. Ultimately, the song paints a vivid picture of an enigmatic figure of great power and repute.
Line by Line Meaning
I came down on a lightning bolt,
I was born with great intensity and power.
nine months in my Mama's belly
I spent the usual time in my mother's womb before birth.
When I was born the midwife screamed and shout
My birth was shocking and terrifying to those assisting.
I had fire and brimstone coming out of my mouth
I spoke with great authority and presence from a young age.
I'm Exuma, I'm The Obeah Man
I am a powerful and influential figure.
Exuma was my name when I lived in the stars
I have always been significant, even before birth.
Exuma was a planet that once lit Mars,
My name has had cosmic significance throughout history.
I've got the voice of many in my throat
I have a unique and varied perspective on the world.
The teeth of a frog and the tail of a goat
My identity is a blend of different creatures and elements.
When I've got my big hat on my head
My hat symbolizes my power and authority.
You know that I can raise the dead
I have the ability to overcome even death.
When I got my stick in my hand
My stick is another symbol of my power and authority.
You know that I am The Obeah Man
I am an expert in the art of Obeah.
If you got a woman and she ain't happy
If you have a troubled relationship with your partner,
Come see me for camalame
Come to me for a potion to help restore love.
Take that camalame and you make her some tea
Use the potion to make a comforting and healing beverage for your partner.
and she will love you all the time
The potion will have long-lasting effects on your relationship.
And when she got you running like a train on a track
When your partner becomes very attached and devoted to you,
take some flour and you make some pap
Use a simple but effective remedy to keep your strength up.
that will give you strength in your back
This remedy will help you maintain your stamina and vitality.
I've sailed with Charon, day and night
I have had powerful and transformative experiences with great figures of myth and legend.
I've walked with Hougaman, Hector Hippolite
I have had profound spiritual and cultural experiences.
Obeah, Obeah, Obeah, Obeah's in me
My expertise and power in the realm of Obeah is innate and integral to my being.
I drank the water from the fiery sea
I have survived and thrived through intense and dangerous experiences.
Tony McKay was my given name
My earthly identity is merely a formality.
given on Cat island when my mother felt the pain.
My mundane origins are unremarkable compared to my cosmic significance.
Creatures of the Earth, Space, Sea, and Land,
I am connected to and influenced by all aspects of the natural world.
I'm Exuma, I'm The Obeah Man
I am a complex and powerful figure with many facets and abilities.
Contributed by Austin I. Suggest a correction in the comments below.