Thoughts and ideas relating to the music and culture of Trinidad and Tobago , especially the steelpan and the steelband
Theophilus Philip better known as Mighty Spoiler, was a Trinidadian calypsonian of the 1940s and 50s, and can be considered one of the most important and influential exponents of the art-form. Indeed , his work has been studied and covered by others, and his style copied ; he is considered one of the greatest comedic … Continue reading The Mighty Spoiler, one of the greatest exponents of the calypso art-form.
Fred Mitchell, better known as “Mighty Composer,” was born in Cedros, and was the oldest of the talented and well known Mitchell family we remember growing up in Marabella. As youths , the family group the Singing Mitchells sang backup for The Mighty Sparrow's recording company until he joined the Young Brigade as a calypsonian … Continue reading Remembering the Mighty Composer
“Pan night and day “ is one of Lord Kitchener’s best, most musical steelpan related calypsos. Indeed, in 1985 it featured at panorama in an unusual tie for first place between Desperadoes and Renegades. However, even as far back as 1985, The Grand Master was concerned about the absence of the steelband from the streets … Continue reading Pan Night And Day
Dennis Williams Franklyn , aka Merchant, was orphaned at eleven and grew up in an orphanage in Belmont, Trinidad.As an adult he led a troubled life , spending time in prison , becoming addicted to drugs , and dying of Hiv/Aids in 1999. However he was one of our most gifted calypso composers, and created … Continue reading Singer/Composer Dennis Williams, – Merchant- a unique calypso star.
CALYPSO: a Brief History by Philip W. Scher . . . CALYPSO is a style of Caribbean music associated with the nation of Trinidad, and is linked to the annual celebration of the pre-Lenten Carnival. The music, as well as the name itself, has a myriad of roots, and although there is no general agreement […]Kaiso … Continue reading Kaiso to Soca: a brief history of Calypso music — Zócalo Poets
Whenever I think of the Steelband Panorama competition of 1966, hear Lord Kitchener’s “My Brother, your Sister“ or Sparrow’s “Obeah Wedding“, I also remember the preliminaries, rain , sweet pan, Guinness Cavaliers - and Desperadoes!
The Foreign Ministry of Trinidad and Tobago has declared to the world that the steelpan is the National Instrument of the country , and research on any internet search engine like Google or Yahoo, or sources like Wikipedia verifies this as accepted fact and that's good enough for me. As they say in legal terminology, … Continue reading The National Instrument of T&T (the steel-pan) and the Law
If I had my way , I'd discourage steelbands from setting up on truck beds , and have them use mobile platforms, built as low to the ground as possible, instead. Of course these platforms would be drawn by trucks , tractors etc. (Even speaker and amplifiers could be added to the platform, but that's … Continue reading THOUGHTS FOR TODAY… About Steelbands on truck beds.
Love to my All Stars people from a Sando man , with a special nod to arranger Leon" Smooth" Edwards This is a salute to my favorite steelband, Trinidad All Stars, Now , I'm not saying that these are their best arrangements or even best performances. I'm just selecting them as my favorite performances. And … Continue reading My Top 10 Trinidad All Stars Panorama Performances
Calypsonian Carlton Joseph,The Lord Blakie was born on November 3, 1932 and died January 6, 2005. He was one of the greatest of our old time calypsonians and an all time favorite of mine, CARLTON JOSEPH , THE LORD BLAKIE Blakie aka D’Warlord was one of the greatest exponents of the calypso art-form in the … Continue reading Remembering another calypso legend , Mr. Carlton Joseph , The Lord Blakie.
G R JOSEPH 