Thoughts and ideas relating to the music and culture of Trinidad and Tobago , especially the steelpan and the steelband
“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! It was a rainy day , and people were sliding and playing in the mud , a little preview of … Continue reading Panorama 1966 -Pan and Rain
Good day my friends.In keeping with the somber nature of the times, I would like to present a soothing piece of spiritual music that is a personal favorite.Since most of my posts have stories I would like to also tell my memories associated to this beautiful piece of music.I know that we’re proud of the … Continue reading Handel’s Largo, And a Clash of Steelbands
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.
I happen to believe that the steelband is our most valuable cultural asset , capable of attracting foreign tourists to Trinidad and Tobago to experience the best steelband environment in the world , and even capable of encouraging them to consider purchasing a pan from the world's best steelpan makers on their departure. Since Panorama … Continue reading Why I support Pan Trinbago’s Tobago initiative , and other thoughts
G R JOSEPH 