Seventy-one Years After TASPO, Ellie’s First-Hand Replay

-

by Les Slater

A When Steel Talks Exclusive

TASPO


Global -  This was a 1951 happening, definitely not of the “incidental” or “forgettable” variety – not for the steelpan world, not for the world of music, period. No, nothing of the sort for the experiment known as TASPO, the Trinidad All-Steel Percussion Orchestra (reportedly, Tobagonians had some issues with that name and that no player from Tobago had been selected, and vented their displeasure in lukewarm or non-existent support during the public drive for funds for the TASPO mission). Notwithstanding this, off TASPO went in July of ’51 to the U.K., primarily to appear in the Festival of Britain, the first representative group of Trinidadian panmen to take the steel band message well beyond the island’s shores. 


So 60 years later, here’s Ellie Mannette, West Virginia University’s (WVU) resident steelpan guru, lucidly recalling the TASPO saga as if this were a last month occurrence. “It was the opening of the gates for steel band around the world,” Ellie is saying.
read more

Comments

Post a Comment

Popular posts from this blog

When Steel Talks extends condolences to the family and friends of scholar, educator and panist Devon Cumberbatch

-
Image
Sincere condolences to the  Pan Lara, P an Evolution, Pan Masters and   Skiffle family, and the pan fraternity on the whole on the passing of  Devon Cumberbatch . Devon Cumberbatch “I would love for the instrument to be as mainstream as the piano, guitar or violin. It may have a ways to go, being a fairly young creation, but I believe pan can progress, develop and infiltrate music of all cultures. I would love to see it as an instrument for all peoples, and universally accepted. The history of the pan is just as important as the future where it can potentially end up and blossom.” -  Devon Cumberbatch    Related content:  Meet Devon Cumberbatch - Maryland ,   Details for Devon’s funeral:   Funeral Service is on February 8th at 12pm. Viewing starts at 11am. Capitol Memorial SDA Church 3150 Chesapeake St, NW Washington, DC 20008 Devon Cumberbatch SA
Read more

Champion Panorama Drummer - Michael “Toby” Tobas - 1970 - Desperadoes Steel Orchestra

-
Image
Michael “Toby” Tobas Michael “Toby” Tobas with Desperadoes - Panorama 1970 Profile: Calypso / soca drums and percussion player Drummer and percussionist from Trinidad & Tobago. Played with Clive Zanda, Mighty Sparrow, Harry Belafonte. Clarence Curvan Orchestra, Hugh Hendricks & The Buccaneers, The Equitables and  Desperadoes Steel Orchestra Michael “Toby” Tobas Michael “Toby” Tobas is one of the premier percussionists from Trinidad, and from the 1960s onwards, he has led the way in Trinidad in earning a living as a working musician via performances, recordings and touring, and has been at the forefront of major developments in modern Trinidad music. He toured internationally with Harry Belafonte for five years (1972-1977) appearing on two recordings with Belafonte: Turn the World Around and Belafonte Live...
Read more

When Steel Talks (WST) extends Happy Birthday greetings to panists Jabari Sharpe & Jahi Sharpe

-
Image
  Jabari Sharpe & Jahi Sharpe Happy Birthday to Jabari Sharpe & Jahi Sharpe March 28th When Steel Talks extends Birthday Greetings to panists, Jabari Sharpe & Jahi Sharpe Relevant content Pan Evolution Steel Orchestra - Performance at BSO’s ‘Pan Is Sweet’ competition Relevant videos Pantonic Steel Orchestra - My House "Hideaway" - Tessanne Chin - Pan Evolution Steel Orchestra Let Me Love You - Pan Evolution Steel Orchestra - BSO - Special - "Pan Is Sweet"
Read more

Obituary of Musician Beverly Ruthven Griffith

-
Image
  Beverly Griffith After a courageously fought battle with several illnesses, Beverly R. Griffith of Deerfield Beach, Florida passed away on April 19, 2022. Beverly was born on April 18, 1941 in Port of Spain Trinidad and Tobago. He was predeceased by his mother Helena (Holder) Griffith, father Herman Griffith and brother Selwyn Griffith. He leaves behind his devoted and loving wife, Pamela Burns, of Deerfield Beach, Florida, his son Gerrard Griffith of New York, his daughter Tara and granddaughter Victoria Lambe of South Carolina, his beloved step-daughter Alissa Bankert of Rhode Island and his sister June Jensen of Florida. Beverly graduated from St. Anne’s College in Trinidad and Tobago and Brooklyn College in New York. Beverly was a Social Worker in New York and Florida. He worked with ailing seniors, needy children and adults addicted to drugs and alcohol. Beverly’s first and most fervent passion was music. Early on as a pianist, he formed the Clarence Curvan ...
Read more

The Story of Steelbands and the Steelband Art Form in St. Lucia - UpClose!

-
Image
Silver tones” - Saint Lucia’s first all-female steel pan group -- photo:  Lucius Alexander  When Steel Talks The Story of Steelbands and the Steelband Art Form in St. Lucia - UpClose! St. Lucia, W.I. - The history of Steel pan in Saint Lucia dates much farther back than Saint Lucia’s independence, even farther than many today can recall vividly enough to attribute its introduction to any one individual. However various names are almost always spoken with respect to this. Lennard “Scrub” Wellington, Augustus “Pan” Andrew are two very instrumental names in the history pan music in Saint Lucia soon to be followed by Roderick Walcott, Antonius “Sycra” Gibson, the Emmanuel brothers, Ivan Smith and more recently with individuals such ac Allison Marquis. The influence and substantive importance of this art form to Saint Lucia is vastly understated by the silence of blank sheets of history or small scribbles here and there in photo albums arid notebooks of the valiant patriots of th...
Read more

Patron of the Arts Artistic Bursary 2023 designed to assist aspiring panists across the Caribbean and beyond

-
Image
The Artistic Bursary 2023 award is designed to assist aspiring panists across the Caribbean and beyond in pursuing studies leading to the Bachelor of Fine Arts in the Performing Arts (BFA) with specialisation in Music (Steelpan) or the Advanced Pan Fellowship Program Certificate at The University of Trinidad and Tobago (UTT).  The Award  The award will provide three (3) individual grants of USD$5000 to the first prize winner, USD$3000 to the second prize winner, and USD$2000 to the third prize winner. These amounts are to assist in covering the cost of tuition, travel, accommodation and course material for their first year of study.
Read more

Watch Now -- Pan On D Avenue IX in 2023 - Live Stream

-
Image
  Pan On D Avenue IX in 2023 - Live Stream Trinidad & Tobago, W.I. -  On Saturday August 26, 2023, pan-lovers can enjoy Pan music to the fullest from multiple steel orchestras, via Pan On D Avenue IX.  Start time is 6:00 p.m. in Woodbrook, Port-of-Spain, and the route is along Ariapita Avenue. Performances are being live streamed by Radicle Tube. see live stream
Read more

When Steel Talks (WST) extends Happy Birthday greetings to the President of CASYM Steel Orchestra, administrator & veteran ace panist Travis Roberts

-
Image
  Happy Birthday to Travis Roberts December 5 When Steel Talks (WST) extends Happy Birthday greetings to the President of CASYM Steel Orchestra,  Vice President of USSA and the manager of the Brooklyn Steel Orchestra, administrator & veteran ace panist Travis Roberts Travis Roberts with CASYM Steel Orchestra New York's CASYM Steel Orchestra closes out their 30th anniversary celebratory year of 2013 - inclusive of their NY Panorama victory - with a successful sold-out concert, their annual Christmas celebration of Pan and dance Back from the performance of Jonathan Scales with his Fourchestra at Pantonic's panyard in Brooklyn, New York. Pictured from left to right:  Hueloy Lila Yip Young  (Harmonites),  Wilfred Wiz Kieal   (Despers USA),   Travis Dvincy Roberts  (CASYM), Jonathan Scales , Pelham Goddard (Exodus) Relevant content The Champions CASYM Steel Orchestra Close Off Year with a Bang, Thanks and Praises Carols & Classics at CASYM’...
Read more