Midnite

Midnite originated in 1989 on the Virgin Islands island of St. Croix as the brainchild of brothers Ron and Vaughn Benjamin. The group’s lineup has featured Dion Hopkins on drums, Joe Straws on bass, Trippa on guitar, Ron on keyboards, and Vaughn handling lead vocals. The band has built a following across St. Croix, St. Thomas, Puerto Rico, and the East Coast of the United States through repeated performances over the years, while a warmly received three-week run in South Africa stands as their farthest journey so far. Beyond the Benjamins, details about the other members remain relatively obscure: Straws, also known as Big Bass, has been active for an extended period, whereas Hopkins, recognized for his one-drop foundation, and Trippa, noted for his tight backbeat skank, count as more recent additions. Vaughn has supplied most of the songwriting, and Ron has functioned as musical director. Midnite have appeared on bills alongside Steel Pulse, Barrington Levy, Hugh Masekela, and Gladys Knight & the Pips at assorted concerts. Their audience also includes college campuses such as Rutgers, Temple, Johnson C. Smith, and Clark-Atlanta University, among numerous others. Releases including Ras Mek Peace (1999), Vijan (2003), and Treasure (2011) reflect both their political perspective and their dancehall sound.