Is he a musician, an arranger, a composer, a producer, a recording artist or a gerontologist?

When the name is Dr. Melvin L.O. Dickinson, Ph.D., M.I.C.E.D., the answer is: all of these things and more.

As one of Bermuda's talented sons, the 50-year-old father of seven has been pursuing the goals he considers the most important in his life: music, church, and gerontology.

His musical "chapter" begins at age three, when he began playing the piano from the heart.

With hands too small to span the chords, and legs too short for his feet to reach the pedals, the youngster nonetheless knew precisely how things were supposed to sound - something that remains with him to this day.

"My wife says to me, 'How can you play that with no music?' and I answer 'Because I can hear everything clearly in my head," Dr. Dickinson says.

"I am able to transpose what I hear into my fingers. It is a gift."

As to where that gift came from, he suggests it was inherited from his mother whom he describes as "a brilliant, talented and commited person who also tap danced with a group called The Rhythm Girls before I was born".

Dr. Dickinson also recalls that, as a child, the family's upright piano was such a good friend that he surreptitiously fed it beets whenever the detested vegetable turned up on his plate, his secret only being discovered when the instrument finally choked!

Self-taught in early child-hood, by age six young Melvin was also playing the piano at the Seventh-Day Adventist Church and singing in the choir, which is where he developed his love of gospel music.

At the Berkeley Institute, he studied piano with Eustace Jones, and also participated in plays and concerts as his natural love of entertaining emerged.

By the time he attended Pine Forge Academy in Pennsylvania years later, Dr. Dickinson was into gospel music, but found time now and then to sit at the piano.

"Playing music is actually a stress reliever for me," he says.

At age 16 he joined a part-time local band called The Green Forest as its keyboard player - the first step in a long musical career when his name would become inextricably linked with the adjective "superb".

Even then a perfectionist, he remembers being "terribly nervous and shaking like a leaf" backstage as he waited with drummer Charles Taylor, guitarist John Burch, and bassist Melvin Musson to fulfill his first gig.

It fell to an older friend and mentor, Curtis Clarke, to give the young man the advice that would become the foundation of his successful career.

"Mel, I want you to remember this always: Even though you make a mistake, when the show is over it's over, and you just grow from there."

The impact of that statement was profound in his growth as an entertainer.

"It gave me the strength to realise that I was human," Dr. Dickinson remembers.

"I could make mistakes, but if I took them seriously and worked hard I would constantly improve myself.

It certainly helped to allay a lot of the fear that I had in playing."

In fact, he still admires his late mentor to this day.

"Curtis was everything.

"He was always willing to help a young person who not only wanted to become an entertainer but also learn about music," he says.

"He gave me charts to understand music, and more.

"I still have those things today, and I believe he was a genius.

"He was Bermuda's Quincy Jones: a writer, composer, and more, and way beyond his time."

When Dr. Dickinson went on to form his own band, Fluid, their first engagement proved another learning experience.

"It was Christmastime and we were playing at the Warwick Workmen's Club," he relates.

"We opened the show, and we all thought we were the best thing since sliced bread because we had the most sophisticated instruments, but after us came the Aldarno Sextet.

"They had an upright piano, a standing bass, a drummer, and some people playing horns, and they all played without being plugged in to electricity.

"I sat there in absolute awe because they were truly entertainers.

"There were no gimmicks and no frills. You either knew how to play or you didn't.

"That is what inspired me."

In fact, Dr. Dickinson has the greatest admiration for all of Bermuda's "old time" musicians.

"They had to really, really work because today's technology wasn't available.

"Today you can create sounds with synthesizers and other electrical equipment.

"In fact, there are people out there performing who are not musicians because the technology is so advanced they don't have to be.

"The only problem is, 'Don't let the electricity go off'.

"I sat at the feet of people who knew how to entertain.

"That is what also inspired me."

It did not take long for the young man to acquire an enviable reputation as a keyboardist - so much so, in fact, that when he was in college in the US it was quite common for people to fly him home for a gig, usually for one but maybe two nights, and then fly him back again.

Like so many long-established local musicians, it would almost take a book to record Dr. Dickinson's musical history - where he has played, with whom, and for how long; as well as his roles as an arranger, producer, recording artist and more.

Suffice it to say that his resum? includes playing with all of the top local entertainers, as well as five years with the resident band at the Forty Thieves Club, when some of the greatest names in international show biz appeared.

Working in the band for Olive Trott's Miss Bermuda contests at the Rosebank Theatre, and most recently being part of the organising team for the Patti LaBelle concert are other experiences.

He also has three albums, one 45 rpm disc, and one CD to his credit, and is mentioned in the book, 'Jazz on the Rock'.

Over the years he formed and played with the band Youth Creation, and managed and produced another, Ital Foundation. Overseas, he opened for many prominent acts including Steel Pulse, Ziggy Marley and Third World.

Dr. Dickinson plays both classical and contemporary music, and lists contemporary reggae as his favourite music, and Bob Marley as his idol of that genre. His favourite classical composer is Beethoven, and he lists Dr. Tomasina Wada, Japanese-born conductor of the Thayer Symphony Orchestra, as his biggest influence and inspiration in classical music.

It was at Thayer Music Conservatory at Atlantic Union College that the Bermudian played percussion in the orchestra while studying for his degree.

Needless to say, Dr. Dickinson laments the current state of the local entertainment industry and remembers the good old days when the Jungle Room, and a host of other nightspots were thriving showcases of local talent.

He also played for College Weeks events.

"One day I hope we will get back to that entertainment scene.

"Every place in the Caribbean has a lot of local entertainment and the visitors really get into it and I like that," he says.

"I like to showcase our talent.

"In fact, it was actually proven to me how much talent we have here because at the Patti LaBelle concert I had Bermudians tell me that if she hadn't shown up they would have been satisfied with the quality of the local entertainers who appeared.

"They were so professional."

As outstanding as the keyboardist is, however, and as much as he wants to see the nightclub scene revived here, he won't be part of it.

"That part of my life is a closed chapter.

"I do miss it, but that is the choice I have made," he says.

"My main focus now is to serve the Lord.

"I have gone back to church, where I play the organ and am part of the gospel and hymns.

"I really like the old hymns that I grew up with, and I want to do some new arrangements of them.

"In fact, I am writing a list of hymns that I want to record, like 'Amazing Grace'."

The man who confesses that he "eats, drinks and sleeps music", and describes himself as "a phenomenal organist" who also plays "any kind of keyboard instrument there is, including a synthesizer", says his future plans include becoming more involved in studio recording work.

"That's where I want to be now.

"I have a lot to offer in original music - I can write anything, and I also want to make an album for my children and grandchildren," he says.

"It will be a mixture of who I was, who I am, and who I want to be, and I want to incorporate people who have contributed to my success.

"I don't believe success is an individual feat because there are always people who inspire and help you to get where you want to be.

"You can't do it alone."

In a career of many highlights, he cites as the best a letter he received from the then-Speaker of the House of Assembly commending him at the Premier's instruction for an all-Bermuda show he produced at the Fairmont Princess Hotel.

"I can tell you the Premier is very, very fond of Bermudian talent and I admire her for that," Dr. Dickinson says.

Just as his mother passed on the legacy of music to her son, so too has the father of seven children passed on his artistic genes to his progeny.

"Son Quian plays the violin, daughters Keoki, Tynika and Jahnia are also "into music and entertaining", while Shemel sings.

Melanie is taking ballet and violin, and Melvin Jr. plays keyboards but plans to be a doctor.

"And if my grandson has talent, I will see that that is nurtured too," his grandfather promises.

If music is one of his great passions, senior citizens are the other, which is why he chose gerontology as his life's work.

"My inspiration for that was in 1988 when I walked into the Continuing Care Unit of King Edward Hospital and saw all the seniors there, one of whom was my granny Robinson.

"I automatically knew that my calling was to improve the quality of life for all seniors."

Since gaininghis Doctor of Philosophy (Ph.D) degree in Administratiave Gerontology, Dr. Dickinson has done a great deal of work in his chosen field.

Today he is a consultant not only to the Ministry of Health & Social Services on a seniors-related project, but also acts in that capacity to various corporations.

"I love every moment of it, and I believe with a passion that seniors are Bermuda's most valued commodity," he says.

The fact that the Premier "loves seniors and has appointed a committee to improve their quality of life" pleases him.

"When you have Government that believes in seniors it works to your benefit when you are trying to get certain things done," he assures.

"The Minister of Health and Social Services, Nelson Bascome, really cares too, so I have been fortunate to have been associated with these individuals."

Asked to pinpoint the greatest inspiration of all in his 50 fulfilling years of life, Dr. Dickinson does not hesitate.

"My mother Ethel, because she is a Christian lady who has overcome obstacles in life that have allowed me to pursue my goals, dreams and aspirations.

"She has always inspired me to be the best that I can be."