Yachtsmen, all geared up for the Newport-Bermuda Race in Newport, Rhode Island, were treated to a taste of Bermuda well before they arrived here.

Bermuda's musical ambassadors, the Bermuda Strollers, set most of New England on its musical ear, and were well rewarded for their efforts.

Group members Gladstone and Ted Ming, John Burch, James Martinez, Dwight Hart, and new bass player Danny Rowland, were treated as celebrities by the New England area.

The Governor of Rhode Island, Mr. Bruce Sundlun, and Newport Mayor Mr. David Roderick declared last week's Newport to Bermuda yacht race week Bermuda Week and Bermuda Strollers Week.

The accolade was not just confined to the Newport area though, because Governor Sundlun declared it Bermuda Strollers Week throughout the whole state! Boston's City Council also declared June 16 Bermuda Strollers Day.

The Mings told The Royal Gazette the group have been extensively promoting Bermuda, managing to play a staggering 31 shows during the 12-day tour, which covered the area from Newport to Portsmouth, Massachusetts.

Gladstone said: "It was spectacular. What was great was performing at the Marriott (in Newport) and our banner was displayed. We also played at the Martin Luther King, Jr. Centre in Newport, and over 500 children of all races attended with their parents and teachers. The same thing happened at the Navy base.'' The Strollers played at the Newport Navy YMCA, the Naval War College graduation, the Newport Art Museum, the Atlantic Beach Club and the Pro-International Triathlon, and Rose Island Lighthouse, to name a few venues.

Ted agreed, saying: "Bermuda got more publicity out of the two weeks when we were there. The Governor of Rhode Island was so impressed, he didn't think it possible that we could play the whole 31 jobs.'' Newport Mayor Mr. Roderick has strong ties with Bermuda, having made many visits here. He told the Strollers he was good friends with former St.

George's Mayor, Mr. Norman Roberts, and said he had heard them perform before.

There were other people with fond memories of the Strollers -- one fan came to see them after having fallen in love with their music in 1973, and brought along the album the group had made in 1973 to show them! The Mings said Bermuda and the group had received coverage in every daily newspaper in the area.

The Bermuda Strollers have been playing their brand of reggae and calypso music since the 1950s and have shared their stage with celebrities Tom Jones, Neil Diamond, Bette Midler, Lou Rawls, and Frankie Avalon. They have also played for former Presidents John F. Kennedy and Richard Nixon.

The group was on hand to present greetings from the Premier and Tourism Minister, on behalf of the people of Bermuda to Mayor Roderick and Governor Sundlun, who said there was a special significance to this Race Week as both the Royal Hamilton Yacht Club and the New York Yacht Club were celebrating their 150th anniversaries. The Newport Yacht Club was also celebrating its 100th.

In addition to newspaper coverage, the Strollers appeared on three Newport area television stations and a half-hour special on the group was aired on a local cable station. They played for the widest audience, from children to college students and adults.

Commented Gladstone Ming: "Many people said they had never had a band in Newport attract such crowds. There were at least 3,500 people at the Atlantic Beach Club, and for many it was nostalgic. A lot of people were reliving College Weeks they had spent in Bermuda.'' The Marriott Hotel chain was so impressed with the group, they offered them the chance to play at all of their hotels in the US. The Strollers had to decline as they had commitments in Bermuda, and they had promised the yachtsmen they would meet them at the finish line -- a feat they managed to make in the nick of time -- the first yacht crossed the line at 1:00 p.m.

Monday, June 20, the Strollers arriving back in Bermuda just after noon! Another highlight for the Strollers was having Mr. Camn Lewis, who holds the world record for the fastest trans-Atlantic two-man race from England to Newport, play with them.

He had heard the Strollers perform previously, and when he played with them, the European press covered the event.

Ted said that what impressed him most was the number of Bermudians living in Newport who turned out to hear them: "I thought most Bermudians lived in Boston.'' Gladstone said Newport was inundated with Bermuda memorabilia. "All around Newport you could see `Bermuda Is Me' buttons and little Bermuda flag pins. `I partied with the Bermuda Strollers in Newport' bumper stickers were everywhere! Bermuda Strollers T-shirts went like hotcakes!.'' The whole experience was so successful that the group were asked to return next year, but as Ted and Gladstone Ming point out: "The race will start in Marion, Massachusetts. We will just have to see!'' New Strollers bass player Mr. Danny Roland is no stranger to Bermuda, having returned home after some 17 years playing with top acts in the US and Canada.

A cousin of the Ming brothers, many will remember him from the group "Burning Ice,'' winners of "The Battle of the Bands,'' in 1973 and 1975.

JOB WELL DONE -- The State of Rhode Island and the City of Boston last week proclaimed it `Bermuda Week and Bermuda Strollers Week,' recognising the efforts of the Bermuda Strollers in promoting Bermuda in the New England area.

Pictured holding the proclamations from left are: Mr. Gladstone Ming, Mr.

Danny Roland and Mr. Ted Ming.