Remembering the late James “Jimmy” Leyden on his birthday - founder of The Calliope’s Children Steel Orchestra

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James Leyden

Birthday - June 12

"Formed and wrote charts for"Calliope's Children", one of the first High School steel bands in the US. Introduced Ellie to the strobe tuner and worked exstensively with him on harmonic and overtone concepts. Toured with "C's C" in Romania (1975) and Poland and Russia (1977) . In 1985 established with Ellie the Haystack Steel Drum Summer Workshop (Cannon Beach, OR). Instructor at Mannette Steel Drum Workshop (Morgantown, WVA) 1995-1998. Founded Hillbridge Music (Your Steel Drum Music Source) in 1996. Inaugurated the Steel Band in School and Community at the Villanova (Univ) Summer Music Program and a similar program at the University of Delaware directed by Harvey Price." -- James Leyden

Calliope’s Children Orchestra photo provide by the James laden to When Steel Talks

Oregon, USA - James “Jimmy” Leyden of The Calliope’s Children Steel Orchestra passed away recently at the age of ninety-nine. 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. Leyden toured with “Calliope′s Children” in Romania (1975) and Poland and Russia (1977).

HGHS Calliope's Children Steel Drum Band, 1977. Front row (l to r): Marianne Noble, John Anania (now Harmon), Lisa McCaffrey, John Casebier, Chris MacDonald, Lisa Ulrich, Leslie Mills(?). Back row (l to r): Kim Gilbert, Bob Nevins (sp?), Dan Harrison, Alan Rice, Toby Gordon, and our fearless leader Jimmy Leyden. Most - if not all - of this group traveled that summer on a 3-week cultural exchange to the (then) Soviet Union and Poland, where we performed at venues in Moscow, Kiev, Leningrad (now St. Petersburg), Warsaw, Turin, Olsztyn, and Gdansk. What an experience! -- photo and narrative by Alan Rice
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