Correl Hewitt

Jamaican artist, guitarist, singer, songwriter, producer and studio engineer. Born in Royal Flat, Manchester, Jamaica, he is the younger brother of Lascelles Hewitt, cousin of Ernest Ranglin, and father of Natel. He started to play guitar as a youth (his father was a guitarist) and in early 1980s he played for the Thunder Bolt band in Mandeville. Then he moved to Ocho Rios to find a job in the north coast hotels, and get hired as a guitarist. He formed his first band with Leebert "Gibby" Morrison from 809 Band, Winston Anderson, a keyboard player and singer called Thatch Hat. That band was the resident band at Buccaneer Cascade for three years. Then they were the first band that played at Jamaica Grande Hotel and played for people like Totlin Jackson, Archie Lewis, ET Webster, AJ Brown and many more. Hewitt became a household name on the north coast as a top musician. He worked with great local and international musicians and producers, including Jack Ruby, UB40, and the Rolling Stones (the guitar on the picture was a gift from Keith Richards). After playing music for 25 years on the north coast, Hewitt moved back to Royal Flat and built the Culture Park complex that has an art gallery where Hewitt showcases his paintings, a restaurant and bar with a stage area, and a recording studio. He formed the Breeze Band, using some of the youths around the area, playing live band sessions.