Remembering Some of Those In Pan We’ve Lost in 2021 - Composer, Director & Arranger James Alexander Leyden III

-

 James “Jimmy” Leyden

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

Comments

Post a Comment

Popular posts from this blog

A look at the new panyard under construction for Desperadoes Steel Orchestra by Sharmain Baboolal

-
Image
Here is an exclusive look at the TT$14 million panyard for the Desperadoes Steel Orchestra which has been homeless for several years, but which was gifted this piece of real estate at 25 Nelson Street in Port of Spain. When completed it will be the first steelband facility of its kind, anywhere in the world, occupying one and a half acres of land. Take a tour with me below: Under construction new Desperadoes Panyard
Read more

Thousands enthusiastically show love for Republic Bank Pandemonium 2023 concert

-
Image
Award-winning Exodus Steel Orchestra from Trinidad and Tobago thrilled thousands at the annual Republic Bank Pandemonium as a featured guest. Exodus Steel Orchestra   The one hundred and fifty-strong Barbados National Youth Steel Orchestra was also showcased as it wowed the crowd with its wide and varied musical set loaded with hits. Barbados National Youth Steel Orchestra The seven-hour-plus concert provided a day filled with activities for family, friends and steelpan music lovers. Huge crowd on site taking in the sweet Sounds of Steel Julie Williams (captain of Exodus) The massive outpouring of support displayed a continued and ongoing positive love between Barbados and Pan. 
Read more

David Rudder - Engine Room

-
Image
  Engine Room ENGINE ROOM Hear the tenors rolling... people on the floor Hear the guitar pan grumble... and the crowd in a uproar All of a sudden every just up and chill. ...everything just gone to a standstill The crowd start to cuss... hear them... what wrong with the band It was the ramp with the iron gone and Fall because the vibration buss way the welding When the iron fall... it humble the pan And everything start to crawl everything start to fall As the dream was plainly seen The engine room... is down there where does cause the bacchanal The pan is the body but the rhythm is heart of the thing The engine room... that is the soul of Carnival Corey did damn well say if your iron good you is King... you hear Check your grandmother... talking to she neighbour next door If the times didn't change up... all now we woulda still be in big war That is the same woman who put out your Mother because she was in love with this pan man She used to open the church door... just to pray on
Read more

Were You There When...

-
Image
Ralph McDonald, David Rudder, Robert Greenidge performed at Lincoln Center New York New York - Pannist Robert Greenidge, percussionist Ralph MacDonald, keyboardist Onaje Allan Gumbs, drummer Buddy Williams, saxophonist Arturo Tappin, guitarist Scott Galt, bassist Nicholas Brancker, trumpeter Etienne Charles, vocalists Rhea and David Rudder commanded the attention of the audience at Jazz at Lincoln Center's Allen Room on Saturday June 16, 2007. It was a musical aggregation looked forward to by many, one that fulfilled expectations, and that prompted a sell-out of tickets to the event at least two weeks prior. The people in attendance had discerning palates when it comes to Caribbean culture, and by the end of the evening their appetites were fully sated. But maybe if you ask the 'Rudderites' who were in attendance, they would tell you that they were still ravenous
Read more

Worldwide and Trinidad & Tobago Defence Force Steel Orchestras both captured the “Best Performing Band” titles in their respective categories

-
Image
  Number 13 proved lucky for the winners of the Single Pan and Small Bands in “Pan in De Sancoche” at Carnival City, Queen’s Park, Savannah, Port of Spain, Trinidad, last Saturday. Worldwide and Trinidad & Tobago Defence Force Steel Orchestras both captured the “Best Performing Band” titles  in their respective  categories. The bands were awarded cash prizes donated by The National Flour Mills Ltd for their scintillating renditions of popular vintage calypsoses. In addition, D’Original Woodbrook Modernaires and Road Block took the titles of Best Flag Wavers sponsored by Trinidad & Tobago Unit Trust Corporation as well as gift bags donated by KAMCO  in concert mode after a hiatus of two years. Selections ranged from the catalogue of The Roaring Lion, Lord Kitchener, Sparrow, Stalin, Baron (Winsford DeVines), Shadow, David Rudder, Second Imij, Arrow, Lord Nelson  and Blue Boy/Super Blue among others. Single Pan Band, Mt. Hololo, Cascade -based World Wide Steel Orchestra  wi
Read more

Dane Gulston - External Relations Officer of Pan Trinbago has resigned

-
Image
  Breaking News To: All Member Bands of Pan Trinbago Members of the National Community Date: November 5, 2021 Subject: End of “TERM OF OFFICE” I am writing to officially announce that my term of office as the constitutionally elected External Relations Officer of Pan Trinbago has ended effective October 27, 2021. When I was elected as the External Relations Officer Pan Trinbago, it was for the term October 28, 2018 – October 27, 2021. The election for that term was in compliance with the constitution of the organisation, and it was expected that all executive members elected at that time would either seek re-election in 2021, or leave office on time as required by the constitution. It is my understanding that the outgoing President Beverly Ramsey Moore and six members of the outgoing executive have gone rogue and refused to leave office. This follows an earlier announcement by the Secretary Denise Hernandez dated September 20, 2021 that the executive agreed that the constitutionally du
Read more

Sparrow and De Girls - Mervyn Taylor - Symposium to examine Sparrow’s career

-
Image
Mervyn Taylor Four distinguished presenters brought different perspectives on Mighty Sparrow’s phenomenal career at the symposium focused on the legendary artist, that took place Friday evening, April 8 at Medgar Evers College, presented by the Trinidad & Tobago Folk Arts Institute, in collaboration with the Medgar Evers College School of Professional & Community Development. The four presenters were billed as Prof. Lawrence Waldron, who teaches art at City College of CUNY; Winthrop Holder, an educator who is also author of the Classroom Calypso: Giving Voice to the Voiceless; poet Mervyn Taylor, whose poetry continuously engages the Caribbean culture spectrum; and attorney Khalick Hewitt, whose avid interest and research in calypso and steel band dates back to his youthful days in Port of Spain, Trinidad. See more Related Content Jean and Joe: Post-World War II Gender Relations at the Dawn of Sparrow’s Career
Read more

Veterans Day Embraces 2 Trinis who served in Vietnam and elsewhere

-
Image
  When Steel Talks - Reboot To Hell and Back to Pan Veterans Day Embraces 2 Trinis who served in Vietnam and elsewhere Global  - ....Veterans Day is officially observed on November 11.  So, it’s the memory of the Vietnam War and how Gerry and I both fought it as soldiers of the First Infantry Division (The Big Red One). ....It has been 50 years, and only now we reminisce about our experiences. We can jumpstart and even further improve our goal to satisfy readers’ interest in what we have to say about our sprawling commentary on Pan in the early period of the Behind the Bridge story of our experiences prior to our migration to the United States. ....For me, the war will never be in remission. It’s an indelible tattoo on my mind. I spent eight days in a hospital upon my return home from the war. ....They had me recuperating at the US Naval Base in Chaguaramas. There, I was fed more Thorazine.  The Brass gave me a break and I stumbled through Port of Spain, where I reconnected with Nevill
Read more