Their Lifetime Move to Jamaica | A Success Story

Leaving the UK to live in Jamaica isn't exactly a 1-2-3 decision; you'd think...Luddy and Jan Samms decided to leave the UK and move to Negril Jamaica 12 years ago and never looked back. Luddy was born in Jamaica and grew up in the US. He eventually joined the US armed forces which somehow led him to a career as a Drifter, like the band: The Drifters. Jan was an educator in Scotland and through happenstance of booking a gig with the Drifters did Luddy and Jan meet. Together they eventually made their way to Jamaica and started the iconic Drifters Bar in Negril.
0:00 Intro
2:15 Their Backgrounds
3:50 Joining the Drifters
7:19 How They Met
9:52 Being an Educator in Scotland
10:46 Coming to Jamaica for the First Time
13:50 The Process of Moving to Jamaica
16:23 Starting a Business in Jamaica
24:07 Getting Involved in the Negril Community
32:47 Negril Vision 2030
35:33 The Biggest Challenges Facing Negril Today
40:17 Developing Musical Talent in Negril
43:28 What Can We Look Forward to in Negril
46:06 Being an Outsider in Negril Jamaica
47:37 What Are Your Favorite Things About Living in Negril
48:40 Developing Negril
54:20 Love for Negril
55:13 Negril Jazz and Blues Festival
1:01:36 Being in the Entertainment Business All Over the World
1:04:28 Drifters Bar Negril Schedule
1:07:17 Drifters Contact and Info
Drifters Bar Contact Info
www.driftersbar.wordpress.com
FB: / driftersbarnegril
[phone]
My Socials & Contact
IG: @throp
FB: @throplife
Twitter: @throplife
Email: [e-mail]

[@smlas]

Thanks. Enjoyed watching this. As a frequent visitor to Negril who has developed some long term relationships with people who live & visit here, I can appreciate the impact these folks have made. I saw this place from the beginning to what it has become today. Kudos to Luddy & Jan. They are a class act. It may be a bar on the beach but they treat everyone like an honored guest. He works the "room" like it's a fancy nightclub. Their involvement & dedication to the community is a beautiful thing.

[@lorrainecross9594]

Another great video. Its fantastic to hear stories of people moving to JA and sharing great stories. Hoping this will send a clear message to the naysayers what an absolute paradise 🇯🇲 is. Keep sending the positive vibes 💛

[@Throp]

Thanks so much!

[@knights673]

Love this, a high school needs to be built with solar technology. Moving forward Jamaica should invest more in solar energy in new building constructions.

[@Mackattackster]

I have the joy of coming to this beautiful island every year to stay with Jan and Luddy. I’ve watched the bar grow over the years and know how hard they both work to make that happen. I know the impact they have on the community and it’s a pleasure to see, they love their life. What a great interview Winthrope. Im looking forward to my next visit to paradise 🌞🌴🏝

[@dornstewart9003]

A technical school or training center. So much raw talent going to waste. Absolutely great interview. Thanks much for your shared vision in this beautiful island.

[@phyllisthompson4207]

Fantastic interveiw! So great when residents give back to their community- just show how much you love and care, not just for your community, but for Jamaica on a whole. Jamaica land we love! Stay bless…

[@jennistrachan6433]

Good interview Throp & it’s good to see ppl caring about their environment/community 👍🏾

[@carleeramsey1444]

This is great how u both gave back all u did and still doing

[@Throp]

Amazing couple

[@scopes9040]

Thanks Thope for another excellent interview👏🏽👏🏽Great to hear the dedication and commitment from Jan & Luddy for the local community 🇬🇧🇯🇲

[@Throp]

You are very welcome!

[@ivylewis2889]

Lady you are wonderful just listening to you is fascinating. U are so uplifting and your vibes is so sweet 😋 and I thinks u can encourage young people to follow in your footsteps, may God continue to bless you out off a bad situation come something good 👍

[@Throp]

thanks for watching!

[@leoniewallace7915]

I just love watching Thorp’s interviews, just so amazing. I can’t wait to get out to JA to experience some of the business and the owners you’ve interviewed.

[@marjorietaylor9950]

Very great suggestions for improving not only the entertainment sector but educational opportunities for the younger generation. A High School and/or Trade School for plumbers, electricians, carpenters would be great as well. All the business people in Negril should get behind such enlightened recommendations.

[@chocolatequeen5953]

Another great interview ! 👏🏿👏🏿👏🏿You would have thought by now , there would of been some action taken by the Tourist Board to make changes to Negril ! It’s time for The Tourism Board to draw up a plan and present it to the government ! Drifter Bars came up with some great ideas ! Negril as a lot of potential , better amenities can attract more investors and can also create a lot of jobs !

[@eileenwatt8283]

There must be a reason why they don't consider it viable. Negril is small and flat. Any massive development would cause flooding and ruined what they currently enjoy.

[@chocolatequeen5953]

@@eileenwatt8283 Not all of it is flat you talking about the strip ,East End ! There is more to Negril more than that plus they can put in top of the line draining system and there are also hilly areas too their are areas where it’s rocky and cliffs ! 🤔

[@SynthwavePro]

Enlightening interview, Throp. Been watching your channel and brand steadily grow. I'm glad to see these fine folks contributing to the Negril community. Can't wait to visit.

[@Throp]

Thanks so much for watching and for the support. It is greatly appreciated

[@SynthwavePro]

@@Throp You're welcome. I teach sound engineering and music production. Lovin' the Negril energy and vibe.

[@maried2089]

Peace and Blessings! Such an awesome content!!! After recently having some not do good experience with some of the locals in Negril 😌this is such POSITIVITY 👏🏽👏🏽👏🏽

[@Throp]

Thank you so much! Sorry to hear about the previous challenges you've had

[@maried2089]

@@Throp thank you 🙏🏽 you are showing the positive side of Negril.. 🙏🏽

[@patriciashawwatkins2901]

Wonderful! What's in your future cannot be denied.👍

[@Throp]

That's right!

[@angelaanderson9441]

Throp it always a pleasure watching you. Very impressive topic I ❤️❤️❤️ what you do for jamaica 🇯🇲 my husband has 3 years left for retirement. I have 7 years but I am not waiting when my husband retired i am ready to move almost finished building my house. Thank Thorp amazing we love you. god bless you

[@nadinelee2728]

This Is going to be absolutely amazing 🧡💚🧡🇯🇲🇯🇲🇯🇲

[@Throp]

Thank you Nadine!

[@nadinelee2728]

@@Throp I love what you’re doing in Jamaica 🧡💚🧡🇯🇲🇯🇲🇯🇲

[@Throp]

@@nadinelee2728 thank you so much!

[@nursetmarie]

Love these interviews. I would love to help with the health disparities. Thanks for providing so many resources.

[@Throp]

You're welcome! Tans so much for watching!

[@samrichman1145]

Dis sounds great 👍🏿 ilove to here ❤️ lovely PPL like those people talk beautiful island 🏝....thks again Throp 👋🏿

[@Throp]

You're very welcome. Thank you Sam

[@islandgirl3330]

I am not a Jamaican but I have learnt so much from looking at content creator's channels on KZbin what is lacking in Jamaican communities and it has left me wondering if the government ministers are not watching some of these channels and taking note of what communities are lacking. Some of the people are doing more for their communities than the MPs are doing. It is nice when people retire and are able to go back home and make such a contribution to a community. Government should try to figure out why Jamaicans go abroad and do so well, yet in Jamaica those same people do not have that incentive.

[@Throp]

thank you for our thoughts and comments

[@karenrainford9192]

Throp, another informative interview. Thank you, stay bless!

[@donnamarie6736]

Thanks for doing this interview with Luddy and Jan, they are great people with tangible ideas that should have been implemented years ago. A high school ,and trade school should be placed throughout every parish on the island...we need to be self sufficient and not fully depend on tourism. The people need to have cultural centers, infrastructure development and safe paved roads throughout the island.

[@Throp]

You’re very welcome! And yes we absolutely need more than tourism. It’s so important we diversify amongst industries as a community

[@jansamuels9581]

you are so right

[@uhuru27]

Every secondary school use to have trades..in the 70's and 80's you could do electrical,welding woodwork culinary , agriculture And sewing. Don't know what happen now

[@donnamarie6736]

@@jansamuels9581 great meeting you with my Cousin June last month.

[@donnamarie6736]

@@Throp nice meeting you last month. We enjoyed staying at your resort.

[@leafgreen8029]

Great job! Interesting awesome shout out to Throp from America👍👍

[@Throp]

Thanks so much Leaf

[@cliveo.ruddock6682]

Winthrope Thank you once again, and thank your guest, I love this story and I am in agreement with their version and ideas 1000% also this place is on my list of places to visit next time I'm in Jamaica. One love 🖤💚💛🇯🇲

[@angelaforbes3395]

Great interview, looking forward to Friday Throp❤️❤️❤️❤️

[@Throp]

I’m going to try to have it up tomorrow

[@ingababy5196]

This is going to be AWESOME!!

[@Throp]

Thank you Ingrid

[@carolegonsalves1614]

It’s a good thing to keep an eye out for outsiders . It’s a form of neighbourhood watch . It makes it safer when you know the people in your area .

[@Throp]

Part of the process in a sense

[@joshuasterling9493]

Another wonderful interview

[@Throp]

thank you so much

[@styliestylishvlogstv7]

My children 4 of them was born in jamaica iand mi and o e of my children born in England but things are not really good for us there in England i want to go to jamaica back to live my children and grand children my mother has Deceeze in jamaica my life in jamaica is very beatiful more than uk.there im looming forward to their from u pl.

[@arnettafrazier6488]

Excellent discussion!!!

[@Throp]

Thank you so much

[@gloriaziegler5890]

It was a pleasure and very informative 👍

[@Throp]

thanks so much!

[@andrearhule-hudson1671]

Quite a facinating and engaging interview😇

[@Throp]

Thank you Andrea!

[@ChanVanessaErnandez]

We need a 2023 guide from the Chamber of Commerce! Looking forward to being there.

[@hutchinsonjohnson2909]

Throp love ❤️ your show a bouth Jamaica 🇯🇲

[@Throp]

Thanks so much

[@renee12977]

Very informative

[@evertonwilliams607]

Great story

[@joshuasterling9493]

what are the odds of the Platters finding Luddy...amazing, this union was ordained in the stars....wicked.

[@Throp]

I thought the same thing

[@augreybaker9800]

wow that’s the most beautiful & amazing storyline, some sweet day I hope I can have some story to tell, was the drifters all out of UK or JA 🤷🏽‍♀️

[@susie2362]

USA

[@Throp]

Drifter was out of the US. We're lucky to have a Drifter on our soil who was born here. Legendary stuff

[@eileenwatt8283]

Thorpe, Negril needs grants for those programs. It would be wonderful to get a fundraising drive going to get money to fund those programs.

[@Throp]

Great idea. I really want to take this on at some point

[@normandelisser8546]

Sweet sweet Jamaica 🇯🇲🇯🇲🇯🇲🇯🇲🇯🇲 love ya

[@Throp]

sweet Jamaica indeed!

[@carleeramsey1444]

Jan ur great

[@granvillejohnson5842]

Great interview and story. I can relate to Leddy story. In fact I would like to know if he ever lived in Manchester UK. I too was in a band in Manchester England back in the 60’s. and I believe he sang with us for a while. Is it possible for you to ask Leddy if he ever sang with the Alphabets? I would really like to know. Thanks

[@Throp]

Hi Granville. I've forwarded your comment to Jan and Luddy. I'd be interested to hear the outcome myself

[@queenratv115]

I didn’t know that Luddy was Jamaica wow !!!

[@Throp]

Yup!! Definitely something to be proud of

[@queenratv115]

I love Driftera even more now see you May 6 it’s my birthday Luddy

[@Throp]

Nice. Hope to see you there

[@winsomebrooks9781]

Thank God from the beginning awesome blessings was good it my The world go around bad heart people stop my flow stroy language important disinfamation many was mine account phone number iwas mind l u wicked Jamaican fight me out my right tell lie and me put me abondan me disappoint me in life treat me lest than humans being winsome brooks

[@carleeramsey1444]

Yes we should go out and march for the future

[@Throp]

Absolutely

[@annramsay4499]

💯🌴

[@Throp]

Thanks for watching Ann!

[@styliestylishvlogstv7]

Greeti gs in the mighty name of juses crist our soon co.ing king , im writi g u this message im writi g u this letter to explain my situation their in England im.life their are not nice me and my children wpuld like to return to jamaica to live and my grandchildren.our life are not pretty in uk my mother and father is jamaica i was broughti mean grow up in ojamaica where i went to school.up on jamaica with my mother and family.

[@rubylimey7614]

There are Many channels on KZbin with information on moving to Jamaica...good luck to u an your grandchildren. Blessings🙏🙏🙏

[@clipow]

Hello Throp, subscriber to your channel and great interview as usual so sorry for having to direct my frustration here. Having difficulty getting my refund from Travellers. Not getting a response despite from them neither is the site that i used to make my reservation. They agreed to waive my cancellation fee because I had covid Can u assist please?

[@Throp]

Hi Groovy. No prob. I'm more than happy to help. Can you email me the details? [e-mail]

[@styliestylishvlogstv7]

From my morher wrote this comments.

[@susie2362]

Never ever in the U.S military He's making a mockery of all those poor Vietnam veterans who still suffer today ,I know my best friend is a real veteran and iv seen them on the streets of California ..

[@oceangrey8796]

Is this Dude the real deal? I thought they had all transitioned........ Sorry. Good interview!

[@mbrooks1334]

Try researching his name

[@susie2362]

That American accent is totally phoney🤣🤣🤣🤣

[@susie2362]

What a load of B.S.he's a Jamacian lived in London most of his life Drifters no way never in the Drifters. And most deffinatly Never in the U.S.military,He's an insult to the Vietnam Veterans! Totally Narcissistic liar.

[@annettejohnson2683]

He is not old enough to be an original Drifter. There are several imitation bands of the Drifters, Platters and others that tour.

[@jansamuels9581]

What age do you think he is?

[@learningasigo1269]

Annette Johnson -it’s easy to find out. All you have to do is Google his name. Luddy Samms. I did so and sure enough he’s not an original member of the group. However, he is the real deal in terms of being one of many replacement members of the original group. There are videos of him performing at concert. He has an excellent soothing voice. Great interview as usual Throp. 👏🏽👏🏽👏🏽❤️❤️❤️

[@maried2089]

🧐

[@susie2362]

You are so right NEVER ever in the Drifters ,all a load of Utter nonsense .

[@maried2089]

@@susie2362 is that facts🧐

[@winsomebrooks9781]

Stroy language important was winsome brooks start wonderful many people enjoy it it was a dream of my life u people treat me like a shit them remember where's them coming from UN Great ful shows no love to me iam poor Jamaican woman I got Dream about my country I istart to write up my phone bring joy to the world but it end up. Bad for me wab

[@SusanRobinson-mr9cz]

She must be so embarrassed by him😂

[@notapplicable4567]

its not that hard if i had a green card id get a remote job and be rich af in jamica, $20 usd per hr is $676,098 jmd per month.

[@Throp]

You don’t need a green card to do remote work. www.fiverr.com or www.upwork.com. Create your profile and start looking for remote work and make foreign currency income

[@SusanRobinson-mr9cz]

Never ever a drifter or in the USAF or brought up in the U.S! And especially not in the Vietnam war,he's a pathological liar! He lived in London most of his life ,Geno Washington was never his favourite drill instructor 😄I'm afraid Mr Samuels is a Walter Mitty character who believes is own lies! He's an insult to the Vietnam Veterans! He's was a lazy dosser,who obviously struck lucky ,with that lady( poor girl). I know ! Just don't believe a word.😱

[@SusanRobinson-mr9cz]

What club did you run In London 😂 definitely not 4 aces,and Turnmill s was never yours! Do you really think people believe you're B.S.

[@susie2362]

The lady is obviously a clever lady!Mr Samuels is just full of waffle ,and pure B.S.living in his fantasy world ,never managed anything in his life, You know what they say if you lie long enough you start to believe your own lies.

[@susie2362]

Charles Neville (Neville brothers died in 2018)so unless he spoke to him beyond the grave Yet another lie

[@gervanmyers3066]

Life is a fantasy full of B.S. being a Waffle which is good for Dipping which He and She is good at VISION 2030 in NEGRIL....JAN is doing a GOOD TALK re the people need reason to be motivated SKILLS and JOBS

[@leoniewallace7915]

What are you saying. He is lying?

[@marvapatterson9886]

Wear is the m.p for nigriiel when I was there 20 years ago it was tourism mainly sports someone needed to send in a letter with lots of signatures for negriel to develop its should not rundown like that

[@Throp]

Leadership has recently changed in the West. We are working closely with current leadership to make the changes we'd like to see

[@lestersmith7974]

Hi Winthrop, you’re the Larry King of podcast over there in Jamaica, I enjoy all of your interviews, awesome, keep up the good work.