ALMOST a year ago, we highlighted the plight of former bass player/emcee for Byron Lee’s Dragonaires, Courtney Robb, who was recuperating from kidney transplant. Robb who had been forced out of the Dragonaires in 2006 after 35 years because of his illness, now plays with two church bands in Florida where he now resides.

The bands — the Grace Ministry Band called Jehoshaphat and Palm Bay United Methodist Church Band. On Sundays, Robb who attends Palm Bay United Methodist Church, plays with both bands. After appearing with his church band between 8:30 am and 9:30 am, he makes an appearance with the Jehoshaphat ensemble.

“Well, I have now gone a year and two months since my kidney transplant and I am feeling really great now. The body has said it’s okay now, but I still have another year to complete the recovery”, Robb revealed in a telephone conversation with the Sunday Observer.

“I am playing in two church bands now… they keep me in music and I am happy about that. So now while I am getting well, I am having fun on a Sunday with the music,” added Robb who said he is looking forward to return to Jamaica around April/May of next year.

Understandably, the veteran musician who is now based in Palm Bay, Florida, is more upbeat than a year ago. At the time he was restricted from travelling and had approximately a year before he could return home.

“The doctor said I can’t travel within a year of the transplant. Because the outside may look healed, but the stitches inside have to heal before they let me go. So they are going to see me for about a year, then after that they will see me every six months,” he said.

Robb who at the time already began playing in church, is still somewhat mum on whether or not he would be returning to the Dragonaires. However, he appears more steadfast and grounded in his musical direction.

A far cry from where he was a year ago. “Right now musically, I am playing bass in my church band. I am doing what you call praise and worship. So I am doing that until the end of the year, then I’ll decide what I will do. You may see me with the Dragonaires, who to tell. That’s one of the avenues that I am looking at, being with the Dragonaires again. Right now I am playing for the Lord, so I am looking that way as well.”

Notwithstanding, from all indications, being a member of not one but two church bands, it’s a most reasonable assumption that Courtney Robb’s mind is made up and there’s no turning back on his part.

— Basil Walters