Former president of Pan Trinbago managing director of Solo Harmonites & Pan Knights - Owen Serrette has passed

-

Owen Serrette

When Steel Talks extends condolences to the family and friends of  Owen Serrette.

"I believe that the steel pan is 'the instrument' of the 21st century and, if marketed as, say, the reggae, will definitely be the instrument of the music world." --- Owen Serrette
In 1992, it was his recommendation to the Patrick Manning administration, that led to pan being declared "the national instrument of T&T."

The formation of Panvesco and the introduction of the Panyard Development Programme stand out as just two of many success stories of Serrette's stewardship. It was during his tenure at the helm of Pan Trinbago that the business sector was said to be "most pan friendly," seen as a declaration of its confidence in the national steelband organisation.
Programmes initiated under Serrette's stewardship which provided sponsorship to the steelband fraternity included the National Junior Panorama and National Junior Steelband Music Festival competitions; Pan on the Road competitions; Arima Panorama; Carnival Monday Night Steelband Explosion; Borough of Point Fortin Pan on the Move; Pan Chutney; Pan Ramajay; Hindi Foundation's Steelband competition; The Panman's Ball; Steelband Week and many more.

Serrette initiated music literacy for pan musicians at UWI, no doubt inspired to do so having being a member of the UWI steelband in Mona, Jamaica in 1973.

He also instituted training in management and administration for young managers of member steelbands. He insisted, and still insists, that pan musicians become musically literate and be referred as "musicians," and not panmen...
As president of Pan Trinbago, in order to internationalise the organisation, Serrette established Pan Trinbago chapters in Canada, New York and Arizona, and formed alliances with Caribbean steelband organisations.

Cultural exchange programmes were also established, with lasting relationships, whereby local musicians, tuners and arrangers secured performances and work abroad.

An amazing caveat of Serrette's stint as president is that he served strictly in a voluntary capacity. "At no time during the years I spent as president of Pan Trinbago did I receive a salary," he revealed.  See more -- Celebrating an outcast

Relevant 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

When Steel Talks (WST) extends Happy Birthday greetings to scholar, educator, exceptional musician, music director and champion Panorama arranger James Clarkson

-
Image
James Clarkson   April 21st When Steel Talks extends Birthday Greetings to panist James Clarkson James Clarkson was born in Grenada on 21 April 1943 and has had a distinguished lifelong career in music with early exposure at the age of 12. He later joined the band of the Royal Grenada Police Force, appeared on stage with his father’s band, and by 17 was a member of the band of the Trinidad and Tobago Defence Force as lead arranger and first trumpet player. By 23 years of age, he was the Director of Music of the band of the Royal Grenada Police Force, and soon became the arranger for the very successful Republic Bank Angel Harps Steel Orchestra , a post he still holds today. The Officers and Ranks of the Royal, Grenada Police Force (R.G.P.F.) take this opportunity to thank Commissioner James Clarkson OBE, QPM, Lmus, F. Sci, for his invaluable contribution to to the R.G.P.F and to wish him a healthy and productive retirement. James Clarkson with daughter Ayana  Panorama Champion...
Read more

When Steel Talks (WST) extends Happy Birthday greetings to composer, arranger, soloist and veteran panist Terrance “BJ” Marcelle

-
Image
Terrance “BJ” Marcelle September 16 When Steel Talks extends Birthday Greetings to panist  Terrance “BJ” Marcelle In an exclusive interview with When Steel Talks - well-known steelband panorama arranger Terrance “BJ” Marcelle - no stranger to winner’s row in the small conventional steel orchestra category in Trinidad & Tobago - speaks about his present position as arranger for New York’s D’Radoes Steel Orchestra. See Interview Related content: Terrance “BJ” Marcelle - When Steel Talks - Bio/History Meet Terrance “BJ” Marcelle - Arranger for D’Radoes Steel Orchestra - UpClose! ...
Read more

Remembering Some of Those In Pan We’ve Lost in 2021 - the iconic panist Ursula Tudor of Desperadoes Steel Orchestra

-
Image
     Ursula Tudor The outstanding panist and icon Ursula Tudor of Desperadoes Steel Orchestra. (May 25,  1946 - July 21, 2021) .   In 2020, Ursula celebrated 50 years of membership with Desperadoes Steel Orchestra , joining the band shortly after Panorama in 1970. She is well-known in all steelpan circles as being the longest standing female player in history. In her 50 years, she has performed in all but one Panorama (2018-owing to a vehicular accident).  see more Desperadoes Steel Orchestra with Ursula Tudor Relevant content Ursula Tudor... Desperadoes Steel Orchestra’s First Lady of Pan  Benefit Concert for Ursula Tudor of Desperadoes Steel Orchestra Some of Those In Pan We’ve Lost in 2021
Read more

Remembering Some of Those In Pan We’ve Lost in 2021 - calypsonian Singing Sandra (Sandra Des Vignes-Millington).

-
Image
 When Steel Talks Remembering the late Veteran Calypsonian Singing Sandra (Sandra Des Vignes-Millington) (1957 – 28 January 2021) Singing Sandra before taking the stage with CYP (Caribbean Youth Panoramics) at the 2003 New York Panorama See more SINGING SANDRA REAL NAME: Sandra Des Vignes DATE OF BIRTH: 1957 PLACE OF BIRTH: East Dry River, Port-of-Spain EDUCATION: ... CAREER: Sandra won the 1999 Calypso Crown with "Song for Healing" and "Voices from the Ghetto." She became part of history when Sanelle Dempster won the Road March title the same year. It was the first time in the history of calypso competition that both titles were won by female singers. She again won the Calypso Crown in 2003 with "For Whom the Bells Toll?" and "Ancient Rhythms." She placed 3rd in the 2005 Calypso Monarch competition with "Clean Heart" and "Judge Me Not." She placed 2nd in the...
Read more

When Steel Talks (WST) extends Happy Birthday greetings to educator, musician, dancer, choreographer, performing artist and percussionist - Rosanna Toney

-
Image
Rosanna Toney May 14th When Steel Talks extends Birthday Greetings to percussionist  Rosanna Toney “It was easy for me to adapt to the engine room through my profession as a dancer; I’m a dance instructor, that’s my ‘living.’ I love rhythm and I also play drums, and through that I said “I just have to play the ‘scratcher.’” I just love music, I could play the congas, the cow bell, you know. That’s where it [the love for “scratching” in the engine room] really comes from.” “And my father is also a panist, [back] home [Trinidad]; at the age of eighty-something, eighty-five he still plays pan. From small, you know, we in to that; he always had us into beating this bucket and ting, beating the rhythm. He played with Sun Valley and Sonny Roach years ago, but now he plays with a small family group.” --  Rosanna Toney Culture is her lifeb...
Read more

Remembering scholar, educator, champion Panorama arranger, drummer and ace panist the Victor “Babu” Samuel

-
Image
When Steel Talks remembers Victor “Babu” Samuel on his birthday on April 19th, 1958. Victor “Babu” Samuel  This man has other notable achievements, these include: the first foreigner to arrange for a steelband in Trinidad’s Panorama; the most successful arranger in Antigua’s Steelband history. He also “drilled” for the Phase II Pan Groove, one of Trinidad’s leading steelbands. Achievements such as these only confirm Victor “Babu” Samuel as the undisputed champion steelband arranger of Antigua. The Antigua Grammar School had an affiliation with the Supa Stars Steel Orchestra of which “Babu” later became its number one (1) drummer. There again, he impressed everyone including the band’s arranger Trinidadian Phillip  Vansupre, who once remarked, “If only I had that little boy playing for my band in Trinidad, no band wo...
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

Panorama Champions - 1963 to Present - Performances on Video - When Steel Talks

-
Image
  Panorama Champions Video Performances 1963 to Present Tap link to see complete comments Comment by  Joan Pilgrim  on February 1, 2019 at 3:50pm Delete Comment I think this is fantastic listening and watching from 1963, and I am in Toronto Canada.  Comment by  knolly smith  on January 28, 2019 at 7:27pm Delete Comment Harmonites and Hatters steelban were always entertaining! Comment by  knolly smith  on January 28, 2019 at 7:08pm Delete Comment PANAM NORTH STARS......SWEET MEMORIES!!!......Desperadoes is about to take over the steelpan world with their sweet,sweet music 'Melda' Cavaliers were also part of the mix along with MY BAND 'ESSO TRIPOLI'...........STARLIFT WAS ALWAYS A STEELBAND FORCE TO RECKON WITH, IN THE SIXTIES AND BEYOND....'MY SWEET! MEMORIES IN PAN'      OH! HOW I LOVE IT!!! ...
Read more