Kevin Davis & Ban Caribe to Grace the Main Stage at This Year’s 25th Annual Down Home Family Reunion

Native New Yorker Kevin Davis began his music career studying music theory and percussion while growing up in New York’s culturally diverse neighborhoods. Tito Puente, Eddie Palmeri and Sam Cooke influenced him. His music has led him to study abroad in Puerto Rico, Dominican Republic, Jamaica and he now resides in Virginia’s capital city of Richmond.

Kevin Davis & Ban Caribe is a blend of Afro-Cuban/Latin/Caribbean music laced with soulful rhythm and blues fused together by complex polyrhythms. “Clave Soul” is Kevin Davis & Ban Caribe’s unique style that replaces the drum set with timbales, congas, bongos, maracas, steel pan and claves with guitar cords and harmonic vocals. Says Davis, “I was inspired to create the “Clave Soul” sound from listening to the Rhythm & Blues of Sam Cooke, and the Salsa music of Tito Puente & Eddie Palmeri. Music is a part of my heritage, soul, heart and blood. The clave rhythms are connected to my soul. I love the partnership of Latin with R & B, because it’s in perfect harmony, and it makes the music all so smooth.”

The group’s repertoire is spiritually inspired by traditional African rhythms and chants. Davis is a 2006 Recipient of the Teresa Pollak Award for Excellence in the Arts. His song Tambor has held the #1 position on the Latin Beat Magazine Hit Parade Salsa Charts.

The VIP Gold Circle

The VIP Gold Circle returns this year. Festival attendees may obtain special seating at the stage throughout the day, complimentary food and beverages and a private meet and greet with the 25th Annual Down Home Family Reunion’s headliner, The Delfonics. Tickets are $30.00 and available at below or by calling or visiting Elegba Folklore Society’s Cultural Center, 101 E. Broad Street, Richmond, Virginia, 804.644.3900