Thoughts and ideas relating to the music and culture of Trinidad and Tobago , especially the steelpan and the steelband
Fitz Vaughn Bryan was a highly respected , popular musician, composer, arranger and band leader from Trinidad and Tobago. He was born August 13, 1917 in Tunapuna, Trinidad, and formed the Fitz Vaughan Bryan Orchestra in 1955. "Tan Tan" by the Fitz Vaughn Bryan band was probably one of the biggest dance hall hits ever … Continue reading “Tan Tan” , and the fabulous Fitz Vaughn Bryan Orchestra
Since so many are concerned about my spirituality and may be curious about it, I will give you an answer. This would be the first time I've actually publicly mentioned this , since I usually do not discuss religion. Though I'm technically Episcopalian (Anglican) I follow no religion , since I do believe that once … Continue reading On the subject of Religion
Pete De Vlugt and the Dutchy Brothers Band The Dutchy Brothers of San Fernando, Trinidad were the sons of an immigrant from a neighboring Dutch colony (Suriname), a saxophone player called Leonard "Dutchy " De Vlugt. As children, they were musical prodigies, regularly appearing on children musical radio shows (Auntie Kay's show, for example), and … Continue reading The Dutchy Brothers of San Fernando , Trinidad
The first Trinidad music band that I loved as a boy was the Joey Lewis Orchestra.
Fonclaire's performance of "Pan by Storm" at the 1990 Panorama finals was one for the ages. This remains the high point of Ken "Professor" Philmore's career on the Panorama stage, and is definitely Fonclaire's best Panorama outing. As a matter of fact I happen to think that the composition and arrangement were Professor's best Panorama … Continue reading Ken “Professor” Philmore and his masterpiece, “Pan by Storm”.
I've been thinking of my most memorable Panorama experiences and the performance by Solo Harmonites in the Panorama preliminaries of 1968 certainly ranks high on that list. The decade of the 1960's saw the greatest advances in the steelband world, and we saw the steelbands grow from the single pan "pan 'round neck" era of … Continue reading A most memorable Panorama event from a bygone era !
The original Hylanders (also known as Highlanders) was founded in the 1950s by Kim Loy Wong who was the band's tuner, arranger, and manager. After Wong left for the the USA in 1959 , the band's leadership was assumed by Bertie Marshall who became the band's leader and tuner . https://youtu.be/FXxQECwMcPw Kim Loy Wong's Highlanders … Continue reading The Hylanders Steel Orchestra, and their legendary leader, Brtram Lloyd “Bertie” Marshall.
Because of my job coming out of the army,I moved to New England in the mid seventies , in time to enjoy the entire Larry Bird career. I was working in the data area at the New Boston Satellite Tracking Station in New Hampshire , and most of what we did was highly classified, but … Continue reading Memories of Larry (Bird)
Stick fighting, "kalinda" was bought to Trinidad by our enslaved African ancestors, and has always been a part of Trinidad's culture, though of course it was never really approved by society. Also called "creole wood", "bois" , " battaille bois" the tradition has endured into the modern era. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=uiYoBGgTRxo Today, efforts have been made to … Continue reading Culture , kalinda (stick fighting) and me.
My life changed in 1962 when I decided to leave the prestigious Naparima College in San Fernando one year prior to graduation , to become an apprentice at the Texaco Oil Refinery at Pointe -a- Pierre , Trinidad. After an unsuccessful attempt to join the Royal Air force ( I failed the physical due to … Continue reading I’m still thankful that I once learned a trade!
G R JOSEPH 