Veteran musician Wendell “Shine” Hayward does not like the word “old”. He prefers “mature”.

This month he will celebrate 70 years of maturity with a special birthday celebration.

“Turning 70 feels no different from my sixties,” Mr Hayward said. “I have enjoyed my 69th year.”

He held similar events for his 50th and 60th birthdays, using them as a chance to raise money for organisations such as the Multiple Sclerosis Society. He says if he makes it to 100 he will organise a concert for that birthday also.

“These are milestones worth marking,” Mr Hayward said. “I am all about music, so that is how I choose to celebrate.”

He grew up in Pembroke, the sixth of seven children.

His mother, Mary Hayward, played the piano and his father, Alfred Hayward was a mason contractor and leader of a Gombey troupe.

“I never saw him dance until one day the Gombeys called my father out to dance with them,” Mr Hayward said. “He was in his sixties at that time and he was really good. Before that I had only ever seen him work.”

Mr Hayward’s passion for music was kindled after seeing a group of young people from the North Village Band playing at his church. After that, his mother asked if he would also like to play an instrument.

Eagerly, he said yes and signed up for lessons with Ada Joell, who was responsible for the band he had seen.

“Getting a saxophone for Christmas at age 10 was one of the happiest moments of my life,” he said. “I opened up that suitcase and saw this beautiful gold plated saxophone. I still have it.”

He and his sister, Sharon, were the first to go to college in the family. Mr Hayward studied at the Berklee College of Music in Boston.

After he graduated he played six nights a week with the Ghandi Burgess Orchestra at the Southampton Princess.

“We would be backing the main highlight, usually an international act such as Melba Moore, Frankie Avalon, The Drifters or the Platters,” he said.

Today he has his own band, Shine Hayward & Friends and also runs Danji Productions. Last year Danji brought a popular Jamaican play Lucky Money to Bermuda as well as Jamaican comedian Oliver Samuels.

While here, Mr Samuels appeared in several television commercials for car company Technics Auto. This led to an unexpected flash of fame for Mr Hayward.

“One day someone called and said Oliver could not be in a commercial for Technics Auto because he was sick,” Mr Hayward said. “He was leaving the next day. They wanted me to find a stand-in.”

Mr Hayward ended up taking on the role himself.

In the skit, his character stands at a bus stop with an impatient wife played by Sarafina Durrant. After looking at her phone, the wife declares she is tired of taking the bus and is going to Technics Auto to buy a car.

“Do you love me?” the husband coos.

Instead of answering or even looking at him, the wife marches off towards Technics Auto to buy a car with his money.

After filming the commercial, Mr Hayward did not think any more about it until weeks later.

“I went to get ice cream in the wee hours of the morning after a gig,” he said. “One of the brothers behind the counter said: ‘Do you love me? At first I did not know what he was talking about. Then the penny dropped.”

Ever since then people have been asking him the same question, wherever he goes.

“That’s not something I would ever say,” he said.

He joked that he had come up with a backstory for the couple in the skit.

“They are not together any more,” he joked. “She is driving around in that car he bought for her with some other guy.”

At Mr Hayward’s upcoming birthday event, veteran musician Gene Steede will be honoured.

Mr Steede is known for his long career in music and is often called “Mr Hospitality”.

“He is very worthy,” Mr Hayward said. “He is a living legend. He has spent his entire life doing music and entertainment. And he is still funny.”

He said Mr Steede had some health challenges at the moment but he was hoping he would be able to attend the event.

It will be hosted by Mr Hayward’s children Nadanja and Nishanthi Bailey, who are both entertainers.

Entertainment will include performances by Pan Man Pancho and Hindsight. The black-tie affair will be held at the Fairmont Hamilton Princess & Beach Club on February 14 at 6.30pm.

The birthday bash has received a grant from the Ministry of Tourism, Transport, Culture and Sport. It has also received support from the Bermuda Entertainment Union.

Mr Hayward celebrates his actual birthday on February 17.

Tickets are available at www.bdatix.bm for $170 each.

Tables of ten are available.