That infamous steelband clash on the Coffee! In the nineteen sixties, Southern Marines Steelband of Marabella was the classic community band; at carnival just about everyone in the community was involved and band was also supported by the local craftsmen and businessmen. The panyard was a busy place on Sundays before carnival; after the well … Continue reading HANDEL’s LARGO , AND A CLASH OF STEELBANDS!
Category: My Stories
Childhood Memories!
Memories! At my age certain memories still cause me to smile, and some of my memories also include my dad, who In my mind was a bit of a character himself. Today I had one such memory that I thought I might share it. When I was a boy we moved from San Fernando to … Continue reading Childhood Memories!
Progress: It doesn’t happen “just so”!
Maybe we aren’t as smart as we think! Over half a century ago, in the year 1968 I left Trinidad for the first time. I was hired by a company in the US Virgin Islands and was sent a plane ticket from Piaco International Airport in Trinidad to St Croix.There was something of a construction … Continue reading Progress: It doesn’t happen “just so”!
An Early Musical Memory!
A Teddy Bear’s Picnic Good day friends. Today I’m recalling one of my earliest musical memories, the very first time I saw and heard a musical record player. I remember that it may have been my very first day at school, probably January 1951 at St Paul’s Anglican in San Fernando. Hand cranked portable gramophone … Continue reading An Early Musical Memory!
I Remember Polio …
I recently celebrated my 76th birthday, and as a child growing up in Trinidad in the 1950s, I remember the sadness of children paralyzed by polio. I also remember outbreaks of measles and mumps and even chickenpox which , though not eliminated has been under control for decades, and it’s occurrence dramatically reduced.
“Is Paris Burning?” A Trinidadian musical retrospective.
Is Paris Burning? is the name of a 1966 movie of the same name based on the question reportedly asked by Adolf Hitler following his order to destroy the city rather than let it be re-captured by the Allies in late August 1944. The story was adapted into a feature film by the same name … Continue reading “Is Paris Burning?” A Trinidadian musical retrospective.
A Fire in Babylon
The fine documentary “ Fire in Babylon” tells the story of the West Indian cricket team tour of England in 1976.South African born English batsman Tony Grieg promised on television to make the West Indians “grovel”.Whether or not he meant it, the West Indians took it as demeaning and racist, and showed their anger in … Continue reading A Fire in Babylon
Panorama Skills on the Home Front? No!
In Uncle Sam’s Concrete Jungle by panist and Vietnam veteran Dalton Narine Remembering Vietnam Buddies under Fire When World War II began, the Venezuelan military was badly in need of modernization, and the United States was eager to help in return for Venezuela’s support in the war. My grandfather, Federico Gonzales, volunteered and headed straight … Continue reading Panorama Skills on the Home Front? No!
AMERICA REMEMBERS
From Buddhist to Warrior Fighting for Family By Dalton J. Narine (decorated Vietnam veteran) A heartrending story so painful you cannot bring yourself to put it down! ARVN (Army of the Republic of Viet Nam) soldiers in 1968 The AK-47 round that Nam Van Nguyen took in the leg wasn’t by happenstance. … Continue reading AMERICA REMEMBERS
So Far Away….
A Carole King Tribute One of my all time favorite pop/rock performers from the 1970s was talented singer/songwriter Carole King. Probably her best work was featured in the 1971 album “Tapestry” , which is also one of the best selling albums of all time. One of the hits on that album was a personal favorite … Continue reading So Far Away….
G R JOSEPH 