When Steel Talks (WST) extends belated Happy Birthday greetings to scholar, director, educator, conductor, arranger Josanne Francis

-
Josanne Francis

September 20th

When Steel Talks extends Birthday Greetings to panist Josanne Francis 

“...Never let anyone discourage you because of your age/gender and at the same time, never use your age/gender as an excuse for mediocrity.” -- Josanne Francis

Her story, her reality, her journey - A Pan story... In an exclusive interview with When Steel Talks, Josanne Francis of Trinidad and Tobago—now an NIU graduate—shares her fantastic journey with the steelpan instrument as her guide, wind and sail.

Comments

Post a Comment

Popular posts from this blog

The History of Steelband in Grenada - UpClose!

-
Image
  Hell Cats Steelband of Grenada - picture provided by Lincoln DePradine “There were lots of guys who went to Trinidad. Some remained in T&T. Among the ones who came back and were in the early steelband movement in Grenada was a fella named Willan Dewsbury. He was part of the Grenada steelband called Hell Cats (he’s the guy holding the flag in the photo - mid 1950s). He later became an MP and served as Minister of Culture. He passed away a couple years ago [May 7, 2016].” -- Lincoln DePradine read more
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

UK 2022 Panorama Results - Ebony Steel Band Captures 23rd Championship with arranger Duvone Stewart

-
Image
  Duvone Stewart with Ebony Steel Band London, England, U.K. - Ebony Steelband's performance of the Duvone Stewart-arrangement of Mash Up sung by the late Dexter “Blaxx” Stewart has given the orchestra its twenty-third UK Panorama championship. For Duvone this marks his fourth winning collaboration with the UK steelband powerhouse. No doubt, Ebony's director Pepe Francis MBE is proud that his orchestra continues to make history with this accomplishment. See complete results and story
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

Steel Band Winners Are Announced - New York Times - 1999

-
Image
See the article in its original context from September 6, 1999, Section B, Page 3 The winners of the annual Panorama competition for steel bands, which is part of the lead-in to the West Indian American Carnival parade today in Brooklyn, were announced yesterday. Twelve bands participated in the event, which took place on Saturday night on the grounds of the Brooklyn Museum. Four bands played arrangements of '' In My House ,'' a song by Oba, and two of them took the top prizes. The Pantonic Steel Orchestra won the $9,000 first prize with an arrangement of ''In My House'' by Clive Bradley, whose arrangement of the same song for Witco's Desperadoes was the winner at the 1999 carnival in Trinidad in February. Pan Rebels, with an arrangement of ''In My House'' by Len (Boogsie) Sharpe, won the second prize of $7,000. Despers USA, last year's first-prize winner, won the $5,000 third prize with ''Ganges Meets the ...
Read more

When Steel Talks (WST) extends Happy Birthday greetings to scholar, musician, educator and panist Jenessa Baptiste

-
Image
Jenessa Baptiste July 31st When Steel Talks extends Birthday Greetings to panist  Jenessa Baptiste “I am always happy to see when persons take the time to walk up to me and say a simple, "hello Miss, I saw you on the newspapers, well done" or even " I love to see you play" or any comments along those lines. Then my entire family, friends and colleagues are just always so supportive that they would turn up for various shows or the simplest events that I participate in nationally or internationally.” -  Jenessa Baptiste She is a natural. Music and Pan have been in her blood from the very beginning. She is a first-rate musician, educator and bass-section leader in a massive, legendary steel orches...
Read more