Eight days after a catastrophic plane crash in North Andros, Bahamas, claimed the lives of five of its 14 members, beloved Bahamian musical group Da Pond Band made its emotional return to the stage, rejecting any plans to disband and honoring the legacy of their fallen bandmates. The July 10 crash, which killed all 10 people on board the Flamingo Air Cessna 402 en route to a regatta performance, stands as one of the deadliest aviation accidents the Caribbean nation has seen in decades. Among the victims were the band’s founder and leader Giovanni “Geo” McKenzie, Rashad Storr, Mateo Winder, Toniquea Gilot and Tra’vis Johnson.
For the nine surviving musicians, led by co-leader Lamar Polhamus, stepping back into performance was not a business decision alone — it was a act of grief, honor, and survival. Founded in 2022 as a six-member ensemble that grew to 14 before the crash, Da Pond Band has built a distinct sound and deep relationships within the Bahamas’ tight-knit entertainment community. Polhamus explained that continuing to play is the only way to honor the work the group built with the five lost members.
“Music is our coping mechanism right now,” Polhamus shared in an interview with The Tribune. “So, at the end of the day, music stops, we stop. We cannot stop.”
The band’s first post-tragedy show came on July 18 at the Cat Island Boat Cruise, followed by performances at Nassau’s iconic Goombay Festival on July 24 and the Made in The Bahamas showcase at Nassau Cruise Port on July 25. Another scheduled appearance is set for Beer Fest 2 on August 2. All of these engagements were commitments arranged before the crash, with many organized by close personal friends of the band, Polhamus noted.
The tragedy cast a shadow over the Bahamas’ 53rd Independence anniversary, turning a national celebration into a period of nationwide mourning. It also sent shockwaves through the country’s small entertainment industry, as the lost musicians contributed far beyond Da Pond Band. Winder, a multi-instrumentalist skilled in drums, keyboard, guitar, bass, and saxophone, had recently toured as keyboardist for Grammy-winning Bahamian group Baha Men in Milwaukee. Storr, a guitarist, also worked as a mechanic at Western Air, and his partner, singer Patrice Glinton, has said she cannot yet return to the stage after the loss.
A candlelight vigil honoring all 10 crash victims drew more than 300 relatives, friends, and supporters to The Pond, a legendary Bahamian entertainment venue closely tied to the band, on July 14. For the surviving members, grief has only pulled them closer together. Polhamus described the band as a chosen family, saying that being together, sharing memories, and playing music is the only way they can process their loss.
“Apart, all hell breaks loose, basically, but once we’re together and we travel, and we’re able to talk to each other, be able to share some jokes, share some memories, and share some laughs,” Polhamus said. The band has no plans to name a new leader, he added, confirming that McKenzie will forever remain Da Pond Band’s only leader.
Moving forward, the band plans to continue playing the music that earned them a loyal following across the Bahamas, weaving tributes to their fallen bandmates into every performance. Polhamus asked the public for ongoing support and prayers as the group adjusts to performing without nearly a third of its members, noting that continued public love is the greatest help the band can receive right now.
In addition to the five Da Pond Band members, the crash claimed the lives of veteran DJ Melvin “DJ Fresh International” Henfield, Andros residents Quintin Myers and Macaro Rolle, pilot Franklyn Cambridge, and 16-year-old Nicholas Oliver Jr. Following the accident, the Bahamas Aircraft Accident Investigation Authority secured the crash site, preserved evidence, and launched a formal investigation, appointing Chief Investigator Kendall Dorsett Jr. to lead the probe. As of the latest update, investigators have not determined a cause for the crash or identified contributing factors, and have asked the public to avoid speculation while the investigation proceeds.