Rum, Royalty, & Rock Stars: The Basil Charles Story

How does a bar built with love become a spiritual home for both billionaires and fishermen on a tiny Caribbean island?

In this heartwarming episode of "Came Here to Love," host Liz Logan sits down with the legendary Basil Charles, founder of Basil's Bar on the exclusive Caribbean island of Mustique. Born into poverty in St. Vincent in 1947, Basil shares his remarkable journey from working as a church assistant at age 11 to becoming confidant to royalty and rock stars alike. After losing his mother at nine and being raised by his grandmother, Basil's infectious spirit and authentic approach to hospitality eventually led him to Mustique in 1971, where a chance encounter with island owner Colin Tennant changed his life forever.

The conversation explores how Basil transformed a simple beachside bar into a global destination where Princess Margaret, Mick Jagger, and countless celebrities found a welcoming home away from home. With humility and joy, Basil reveals the philosophy behind his success: genuine love for people, dedication to service, and creating moments of pure happiness through music, dance, and community. Beyond his commercial success, Basil shares how he established an educational foundation that has helped 4,000 children in St. Vincent, embodying his grandmother's teaching that giving without expectation is life's greatest reward.

Basil Charles was born in 1947 in a small village in St. Vincent, and overcame a challenging childhood marked by poverty and his mother's death when he was nine. Raised by his grandmother, he began working at age 11 and eventually found his way to Mustique in 1971. There, a chance meeting with island owner Colin Tennant led to the creation of Basil's Bar, which became a legendary Caribbean destination frequented by Princess Margaret, Mick Jagger, and countless celebrities as well as locals. Despite his success, Basil remains humble, founding an education foundation that has helped 4,000 children in St. Vincent while embodying his grandmother's philosophy of giving without expectation.

In this episode:

• (00:00) Introduction and Basil's life philosophy
• (01:13) Basil's background and introduction to Mustique
• (07:44) Early life in St. Vincent and journey to Mustique
• (13:04) Meeting Colin Tennant and early days at Cotton House
• (19:56) The birth and evolution of Basil's Bar
• (24:24) Creating a magical atmosphere where everyone belongs
• (30:13) Jump Up nights, Blues Festival, and celebrity performances
• (35:21) Life lessons, legacy, and the importance of love
• (43:25) Final thoughts and closing reflections
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Resources:

Basil’s Bar Mustique