Dear Celia Benny was one of the guitarists I truly admired especially when he played instrumental tunes made popular by The Shadows. The person who inspired me to pick up the guitar and learn how to play was Hank Marvin, lead guitarist of The Shadows. Benny used to play the lead almost exactly like Hank – to me, he was a genius on the lead guitar. When I went to live in Mombasa in the ‘70’s, I joined The Ghost Riders. One of the highlights of my performances with this group was in a talent competition organized by the Mombasa Institute. It was a great honour to play on the same stage with the Shiftars and a double honour to tie for first place with the Shiftars. The Shiftars were the most friendliest musicians I had the pleasure of meeting in Mombasa and in 1991, to meet up with Benny and hear him perform once again with Shiftars here in Canada for the very first Kenya Night, was a wonderful experience – especially when Benny recognized me and we both hugged each other. We definitely lost a very humble and great musician in Benny. I will always remember his amazing talent which will never, in my opinion, be duplicated. May his beloved soul rest in God’s eternal peace in heaven where we know he will be entertaining the angels. Jimmy van Rossi.