Steelpan Music News - History and Culture

  Relevant content When Steel Talks 2021 Headlines WST blurbs, stories and news When Steel Talks - Online News Happy New Year & Cheers To Life

  Happy New Year 2022 Global -  When Steel Talks extends New Year’s greetings to all. Despers USA - Year for Love See More

  When Steel Talks Some of Those In Pan We’ve Lost in 2021 The steelpan music community remembers some of the people in pan and stalwarts of the steelband art form lost in 2021. See more In Memoriam - 2021   William “Jonesy” Jones - President emeritus of CASYM Steel Orchestra passed on February 4, 2021 -  see more   Cecil “Pious” Atherton - Session musician for Calypso and Soca hits. Drummer for Hylanders Steel Orchestra. Ace conga player for Metro Steel Orchestra and Pantonic Steel Orchestra - passed on March 10, 2021 -  see more   --  Born - May 5, 1952   Alston Jack aka “Lil Jack” - Composer, Arranger, Panist, Performing and Recording Artist. Jack’s pan compositions have been featured on the soundtracks of Fatal Attraction, Working Girl and NBC’s daytime soap opera Another World. He has also appeared on the Cosby Show and Another World. He has arranged for bands in New York such as Harlem All Stars, Moods Pan Groove, Metro, Women in Steel, Tropicans and Pantonic. - passed on April 1

  Much respected composer, arranger and musician Godwin Bowen passed July 16, 2021. see more For each of those nine (9) original pieces, Bowen composed the song and the lyrics and also arranged both the calypso demo version and the Steelband Panorama version. The titles of the songs and the lyrics show an arranger and composer who had taken the time to observe and understand the Panorama tradition and the essence of its dynamic, in order to do justice to it in his music. Pamberi is grateful for the opportunity that we had to partner with such a gifted and thoughtful musician....Godwin you did good, in fact you did better than good, and students of the steelband, its music and the Panorama tradition owe you a debt of gratitude. Thank you and Nuff Respect!    --   Andre Moses Relevant content Pamberi Remembers Godwin Bowen Godwin Bowen - Raising Dust

  Relevant Content on Anthony Williams Legends - Anthony Williams - North Stars - Bio An exclusive When Steel Talks interview with Anthony Williams The Rise and Fall of the Pan Am North Stars by Jerry Bain Meet Anthony Williams - Master Steelpan Innovator and Leader - UpClose! David Maunday, veteran North Stars Steelpan Musician Speaks Hammer on Steel: Bad Boys & Genius North Stars Steel Orchestra - Panorama Championships How North Stars Steel Orchestra of Trinidad & Tobago got its name The Ivory and Steel Recording, Still a Cultural Phenomenon Herman Johnston - The Johnston Fantastic Symphony Steel Orchestra Tony Williams to Mark 50th Anniversary of Voices of Spring on 81st Birthday  by Dalton Narine Jonathan Scales with Anthony Williams Spider-Web Tenor

  Happy Birthday to Adrian Lovell December 30th When Steel Talks extends Birthday Greetings to panist, Adrian Lovell Adrian Lovell Relevant content The Nine-Bass steelpan instrument - Panonthenet Sonatas - "Battle Zone" - Pan in New York 2010 - Cool Down Special Full Extreme - Pan Evolution Steel Orchestra - Cool Down Pan Yard Version 2017

  Happy Birthday to Garvin Blake December 30th When Steel Talks extends Birthday Greetings to panist, composer, arranger and performing artist Garvin Blake Garvin Blake Leave message & greetings   Just Listen! Frankie McIntosh & Garvin Blake Sextet - An Evening of Calypso Jazz

  Composer & arranger James Alexander Leyden III was born on June 12, 1921 and passed away on May 25, 2021. Leyden formed and wrote charts for “Calliope′s Children,” one of the first High School steelbands in the US. He introduced Ellie [Mannette] to the strobe tuner and worked extensively with him on harmonic and overtone concepts (in Chappaqua, New York in 1971). Leyden toured with “Calliope′s Children” in Romania (1975) and Poland and Russia (1977). Leyden first came into contact with steelpan while vacationing in Tobago, sister isle of Trinidad, in 1957. -  see more Related content Calliope’s Children Steel Orchestra In Memoriam of James “Jimmy” Leyden - founder of Calliope′s Children Steel Orchestra Calliope's Children Steel Orchestra Farewell Concert arr Jimmy Leyden - 1977 Remembering Some of Those In Pan We’ve Lost in 2021

  Jonathan Scales with Nizar Dahmani from Morocco with the Darbuka! See more on Jonathan Scales Meet Jonathan Scales -  UpClose !

  Happy Birthday to Leeandro Noray December 29th When Steel Talks (WST) extends Happy Birthday greetings to panist and arranger Leeandro Leeandro Noray click for more on Leeandro Noray

  When Steel Talks extends our thoughts and condolences  Raphael ’Stretch’ Garcia of Phase II Pan Groove has passed. Raphel is the cousin of Robbie Joseph -editor of Pan Podium magazine   Raphael is also the brother of former councilor for Woodbrook/St James -  Cleveland Garcia.  In addition, he is the childhood friend of Dr. Len 'Boogsie' Sharpe . From left. Raphael Garcia, Dr.Len Boogsie Sharpe and Former Councillor Cleveland Garcia Relevant content Remembering Some of Those In Pan We’ve Lost in 2021

  Joey Horsford Panist & Administrator Joey Horsford of Silhouettes, Pan Rebels & NY Marsicans Steel Orchestra passed on May 19, 2021 - see more -- Born 1960 Relevant content Dead or Alive - Marsicans Steel Orchestra Celebrate - Marsicans Steel Orchestra Panist & Administrator Joey Horsford of Silhouettes, Pan Rebels & NY Marsicans Steel Orchestra Some of Those In Pan We’ve Lost in 2021 Dead or Alive - Marsicans Steel Orchestra 2005

  Happy Birthday to Latifah De Coteau December 28th When Steel Talks (WST) extends Happy Birthday greetings to panist  Latifah De Coteau Sky De Coteau “The love for steelpan and knowing that it was originated right here in Trinidad and Tobago keeps my passion for the instrument and music going.  ...Not many countries have an instrument they can call their own, so we must embrace it while we still can.”- Latifah (Sky) De Coteau Related content Meet Sky De Coteau of La Brea Nightingales - Trinidad and Tobago

  Happy Birthday to Luz Carime Santa-Coloma December 28th When Steel Talks (WST) extends Happy Birthday greetings to panist Luz Carime Santa-Coloma Luz Carime Santa-Coloma “I can honestly say that playing with CrossFire at the Panorama competition was  the most fun I have ever had on stage... I am constantly amazed at how much fun I have every single time I stand behind a pan. There has never been a second when I wished I was doing something else. It's an instant mood booster, and in an ensemble setting, you can feel the positive energy radiating from the people around you.” - Luz Carime Santa-Coloma Related Content Meet Luz Carime Santa-Coloma - NYU Graduate, Panist & Percussionist - UpClose! Luz Carime Santa-Coloma - New York University, New York - Women in Pan Luz Carime Santa-Coloma - UpClose - A When Steel Talks Exclusive Interview CrossFire Steel Orchestras - Outta Da Box - Tempo Mix - Kendall Williams A Triumph return from the International Panorama  CASYM Steel Orchestr

  Happy Birthday to Cherylee Goddard-Legair December 28th When Steel Talks (WST) extends Happy Birthday greetings to panist Cherylee Goddard-Legair “For me, to play something that came about from a simple oil drum, but fascinates people around the world, is amazing.”  She is an intellectual - multi-talented, thoughtful, forward-thinking beyond her years...  In an exclusive interview with When Steel Talks -  panist, musician, budding photographer, future lawyer and performing artist Cherylee Goddard-Legair shares her reflections, experiences and views on Pan,  and the steelpan art form. See more Relevant content Meet Cherylee Goddard-Legair - Trinidad & Tobago Six-pan / Rocket Pan See more on Six-pan / Rocket Pan

  Happy Birthday to Carl Sobers December 25th When Steel Talks (WST) extends Happy Birthday greetings to panist Carl Sobers Carl Sobers with Phase II - 2008  Relevant content Phase II Pan Groove Len "Boogsie" Sharpe Phase II - Musical Vengeance - 2008

  Happy Birthday to  Edward Clarke Jr December 27th When Steel Talks (WST) extends Happy Birthday greetings to ace panist Edward Clarke Jr. Edward Clarke Jr. See more Despacito - Steel Sensation - A Night of Reggae and R&B Relevant content Steel Sensation Steel Orchestra - “Perfect” - BSO's 2018 'Pan Is Sweet' Meet Edward Clarke Jr of New York, USA - Steelpan performing artist D'Radoes Steel Orchestras - Like Ah Boss

  Happy Birthday to Marlon White December 26th When Steel Talks (WST) extends Happy Birthday greetings to panist and arranger Marlon White Marlon White See more

  Happy Birthday to Ke Shari J'knysa Caesar December 26th When Steel Talks (WST) extends Happy Birthday greetings to panist  Ke Shari J'knysa Caesar Ke Shari J’knysa Caesar “My vision is for Trinidad & Tobago to embrace the steelpan instrument and we can make the steelpan industry become as lucrative or more so than the oil industry.”  And when it comes to Pan she is keeping it 100. No doubt it is a lifetime love affair.  The “Pan Jumbie” lives in her 24-7-365 days a year. In an exclusive interview with When Steel Talks, the immensely multitalented Ke Shari J’knysa Caesar shares her deeply personal feelings and insight into her relationship with the Steelband music art form and culture. See more

Wilbert “Junior” Gill Composer, Arranger, Panist, Percussionist   Artist biography Wilbert "Junior" Gill Born in London in 1963, Wilbert "Junior" Gill is nowadays based in Zürich, Switzerland, where he has been studying and teaching music since 1991. He is the musical director of the Music Center Affoltern, in Zürich that caters for drums, marimba, percussion, keyboard, and guitar + studio technique courses. He has performed with quite a few well known musicians, either on stage or in Jam Sessions. Phil Collins, Santana, George Duke, Airto Moriera and Victor Bailey – to name a few. Junior has learnt to master the steelpan, through listening and learning from the pan musicians of the so called “Old School“, in the likes of Gary Chang, Ken Johnson, Selwyn Baptiste, Pedro Burgess, Sterling Betancourt, Russ Henderson, Aubrey Bryan, Zigilee Constantine, Kenrick Isidore, Boots Davidson, Tony Charles and his first ever teacher Clyde Dias. Since 2002, Wilbert Gill has been

  When Steel Talks extends Birthday Greetings to the legendary  Emmanuel “Jack” Riley  - Master Panist, Steelpan Tuner & Builder An inclusive interview with the legendary steelpan soloist and tuner - Emmanuel "Jack" Riley he shares his experiences and memories on his illustrious career As an integral member of the steelband culture and movement, Jack Riley wears at least three hats. Jack is a great improvisational steelpan player and renowned soloist. Having received accolades as a creator of and performer on the steelpan, he has the unique distinction of one who can truly be hailed as the "Master" of the Steelpan instrument. Relevant content Members of the National Steelband which performed at Expo '67 in Montreal Canada Ellie Mannette with long-time fellow Invaders bandmate, Emmanuel "Jack" Riley

  When Steel Talks Reboot - Feel the Music - Live the Experience Khuent Rose and Andre White @ the 2019 CrossFire Steel Orchestra - We Three Kings concert

  The late Douglas "Dougie" Martin Christmas with CrossFire Steel Orchestra Brooklyn, New York, USA  - “Nah it’s cold out there - can’t go” -- were words that were never entertained or spoken by the full-house crowd that turned up for the CrossFire Steel Orchestra ‘We Three Kings’  2019 Christmas Show. Others in the Big Apple may have been hanging with the Rockettes uptown at Radio City Hall, or at Lincoln Center with Tchaikovsky’s Christmas ballet “The Nutcracker,” or a Christmas musical on Broadway.  But Brooklyn natives were privy to their equally valued form of high culture and grand entertainment - a steel orchestra Christmas musical. See more

Extra, Extra - New York Steelpan Music Cures Grinch USSA’s Pan For Christmas At Prospect Heights High School Is the Cure A When Steel Talks Exclusive © 2014 When Steel Talks - All Rights Reserved Brooklyn, USA -  There was indeed a Grinch sighting -  armed and ready he was to steal Christmas. And, yes, he entered the arena all huffy, puffy and yucky, but he never saw what hit him. Sitting up in the balcony by himself - from the first note of New York Pan Stars he was in trouble. As they dropped “ Ah Feelin ’ ” his feet started to dance in time without his consent. And by end of ADLIB’s “ All I Want for Christmas is You ” Mr. Grinch was actually clapping hands and giving an awkward wave. CASYM then dropped a musical smart bomb on him that went straight to his heart. Yep, old Mr. Grinch, although be it slightly out of key - that grumpy old voice -  began singing along  with their version of  “ Santa Claus Is Coming To Town . ” Poor Mr. Grinch, by the time CrossFire laid down “ This Chris