“Crawl” Remembered - One of the finest Bassists Ever

[Pan Times]

Global - Exactly eleven years ago (June 7, 2008) the steelpan music community lost one its finest musicians. Frank “Crawl” Findley of Desperadoes in Trinidad and D'Radoes in New York was simply poetry in motion. When Steel Talks remembers and salutes “Crawl” - the great bassman now in heaven's stage-side.   click for more on “Crawl”

[Salah Wilson]

I have had the great pleasure of playing with Despers in '83 (Rebecca) and '84(The Jammer). everyone was there including Rudolph, Bradley, Gunga Din, Michael, Buffy, El Moose and of course Crawl. It was just amazing to be around these pan greats. those of you who played these years will remember the great sound ( from four pan Tuners Rudolph, Bertie, Lincoln, and Wallace) the great music (Bradley and Robert), the great camaraderie ( friendship).the great band Desperadoes. The memory of these years will always remain with me. I am grateful to have just been a part of it all.I have always since then made it a point of intent to check out Brother Crawl when ever I visited the band ...all good things do come to an end eventually. May Allah have mercy on those who have been called back to him and mercy on those who are still continuing to produce what Despers produces...best wishes brothers and sisters
Salah Wilson ( Montreal)

[Kevin D. Lee]

Thank you Mr Valentine Young for this tribute . You have my pores all ablaze at the moment. If I may paraphrase from a friend who extended condolences at the time, the inevitability of death certainly does not allow us the luxury of, and I add a bit of a variation here, of taking for granted the remaining treasures of Desperadoes. With the passing of Crawl, coming on the heels of what seemed like an unending spate in the band, I now view with a different love & appreciation the soldiers like Robbie, Mac, Ursula, Curtis, Bertram(Teets) and his kids, Dennis(Tash), the Phillips brothers("Peugeot" & the hardest Conga man), David(Pin), Fitz(what a passionate devotee), the engine room posse ("Drummie", Mikey et al) - < and I am remembering deceased Corey >, Kenneth( let's get it together PLEASE!!!!), Junior(BenUp..a real brother) and all the other names which elude me at this time ( having some senior moments right now...smiles). I value my last encounter with Crawl when he called out to me to enquire in his typical Mr Cool manner as to why he wasn't seeing me around the band as often. The truth be told I listen to this band everyday. Thank you, thank you Mr.Young. May his soul through the mercy of God rest in peace.