Newton Charles Grant

February 1924 - July 2022

Known as “Swing Zebra” in Panama, after a hit song he composed decades ago, and as the “One Man Band” in the US, he is affectionately known by his family simply as “Grant.” He peacefully passed this month at the age of 98, but remained incredibly active throughout his life, continuing to perform as the One Man Band at Bayside in Miami until he was 95. He loved public performance passionately, as he always wanted to “earn” his “bread,” but he simply loved to make people happy with his music. The only thing he loved more were his friends, family, and, ultimately, God.
Despite having only a primary school education, he possessed deep, down-to-earth wisdom born of the many trials he had to overcome in his long life…trials that are both timeless and of a time that now seems like a dim memory of a bygone age. If there was any vice he possessed, it was yelling loudly at speeding drivers on the road as he safely drove under the speed limit.
Grant immigrated to the US in the 1950s and had first-hand experience with much injustice, but he always believed in the promise of America and lived long enough to see that his faith was not in vain. When he finally saved enough to own his own piece of the American dream, a single-family home in Miami, one of the first things he did was erect a flag pole to raise the American flag.
Grant was a simple man, in the best possible way. He worked hard to ensure that there was always bread on the table, clothes on his children’s backs, and a roof over his family’s head. If that meant moonlighting at night as a musician in a band or as a street performer on weekends, even after working every weekday from 9-5 at Macy's for decades, then so be it. He saved enough to take his wife and sons to Mexico or Panama to visit the extended family there, thanks to God for his unstoppable work ethic to provide for his family.
Grant is survived by his wife, Maria Luisa, and by his sons, Antonio, Newton Eduardo, and Reysol, his daughters-in-law, Maria Ortega, Ruri, and Melissa, and his grandchildren, Leidi, Janeth, Genji, Harumi, Ken, Minmay, Reyme, and Rush.
Visitation will be Monday, July 18, 2022 from 6:00pm - 10:00pm with a prayer service Monday evening all at Landmark Funeral Home.

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