The Night Ron Berridge Dropped his “Bomb”.

An example of the Ron Berridge Big Band Sound "My Favorite Things" https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=r6VDKW3D1tI This Ron Berridge arrangement of the Rodgers and Hammerstein show-tune "My Favorite Things" (from "The Sound of Music")is an example of the powerful big band sound of the Berridge orchestra that was partly created by the trombone of Simeon Cabellero, also known … Continue reading The Night Ron Berridge Dropped his “Bomb”. →

The Bonaparte Brothers of Trinidad

One of the least known and appreciated of all the pan pioneers of Trinidad and Tobago is Belgrave Bonaparte, the leader of the La Brea steelband Southern Symphony. Southern Symphony, a pioneering steelband, was the first to introduce the reading of music while playing to the steelband , according to sources like Junior Pouchet and … Continue reading The Bonaparte Brothers of Trinidad →

Some thoughts on calypso , modern soca and the steel-band

I believe that the primary difference between calypso composers of yesteryear, and soca / calypso composers of today is the fact that old time composers wrote calypsos with a steelband beat "in dey head". This was partly because the steelband dominated the streets and determined the road-march winner which was coveted by calypsonians back then … Continue reading Some thoughts on calypso , modern soca and the steel-band →

The missing ingredient from Trinidad’s Carnival today – the steelband’s cultural influence

As I read about Peter Minshall's involvement with Exodus Steel Orchestra for Carnival , I felt that Minshall must be aware of something that some of us have already known. It is the importance of role of the steelband in making Trinidad's carnival as an unique spectacle. When I speak ot the impact of the … Continue reading The missing ingredient from Trinidad’s Carnival today – the steelband’s cultural influence →

Forgotten Southern Marines players from the glory days

Before I forget , I would like to list all the Southern Marines players I remember from the days when Marines were the sweetest steelband in south. These men were also members of the band that won the first panorama ever , which was South Panorama that was held before the national panorama in 1963. … Continue reading Forgotten Southern Marines players from the glory days →

The Journey Begins

Thanks for joining me! Good company in a journey makes the way seem shorter. — Izaak Walton

Memories…a brief story of my times in the South Trinidad steelpan scene .

I remember in the mid sixties , three south steelbands came on the scene around the same time. They were Scarlet Symphony of Marabella led by Michael Alleyne , Fonclaire, led by the Austin brothers ,Rudin and Milton Wire Austin, and Silvertones of San Fernando, captained by David "Peasey" Balboza , who I knew , … Continue reading Memories…a brief story of my times in the South Trinidad steelpan scene . →

The Silhouettes Combo of Marabella

https://youtu.be/yzvkn1mvZFI My dear friends , I must have mentioned on occasion that as a youth I was a founding member of a combo called Silhouettes Combo of Marabella ,Trinidad. Well , this is the story. In the early 1960's , as rock and roll music became the favored genre of youth worldwide, its … Continue reading The Silhouettes Combo of Marabella →