After serenading audiences around the world, the Bermudian group Exotique are back home to jazz-up the local entertainment scene.

The Las Vegas-based group returned to the Island for a three-week gig at the Southampton Princess Hotel.

And the band have been warmly welcomed back home, playing to a packed house every night.

Exotique consist of musical director and pianist Stephen Hinds, bassist Rubert Hinds, drummer Vernon Tucker and vocalist Lauritta Augustus-Hinds and Kenneth Gober. Every member of the group is Bermudian except Mr. Gober who is married to a Bermudian.

Years ago, the group, which was formed in 1986 and performed under the name Electronic Symphony, was a regular fixture on the local entertainment scene.

The band played in a variety of local hotels for seven years before deciding to take their show on the road in 1993.

"We wanted to achieve personal satisfaction and we were not getting it here,'' explained Mr. Hinds.

He said that when the band was based in Bermuda they noticed that foreign managers had no interest in Bermudians.

And he said that each time a foreign manager joined a hotel, local entertainers had to prove themselves all over again.

"We continuously had to prove over and over again that we were competent to do the job of entertaining visitors,'' he added.

For the last six years the band has performed all over the world, touring Europe, the Middle East and Asia.

Last month, the band returned to Bermuda to serenade the Island with their unique repertoire which includes classics, R&B, top 40, reggae and soca.

And listeners have been treated to some original songs, written by the band members themselves.

Unfortunately all good things must come to an end and the band is scheduled to finish their Southampton gig next Saturday.

The band is playing at Southampton Princess in the Neptune Club on Wednesday, Thursday, and Saturday evenings until July 10.

Exotique: They are musical director and pianist Stephen Hinds, bassist Rubert Hinds, drummer Vernon Tucker and vocalist Lauritta Augustus-Hinds and Kenneth Gober.