In the Spotlight Original PanMan - Ralph Davis

-


Ralph Davis


Another episode occurred when he played for the queen of England on her visit to Trinidad and Tobago at the then-Governor-General’s house. He remembers her standing right over his pan. But what she did not know, was that the shoes he was wearing, had no soles... For he could not afford shoes. So the illusion was there, just the outer part of the shoe, while his feet had already been cut from sharp stones and bottles on his way to play for her Majesty.

See complete interview https://www.panonthenet.com/spotlight/rdavis/index.htm #SteelpanMusicExcellence #steelpanhistory

Comments

Post a Comment

Popular posts from this blog

When Steel Talks (WST) extends Happy Birthday greetings to scholar and panist Shelly George

-
Image
    Shelly George October 16th When Steel Talks extends Birthday Greetings to panist Shelly George “Finding a place for steelbands to practice is one of the greatest challenges this current generation is facing. Not only is this a problem in New York but also in New Jersey where my home band practices.” Oasis Steel Orchestra in New Jersey has been her ‘homebase’ but she is equally at ease performing with New York’s major bands. She’s passionate about her pan of choice - the guitar, as it resonates throughout her being. The steelband art form means much to her, and in an exclusive interview with When Steel Talks - panist, performing artist and designer Shelly George shares her reflections, experiences and views on Pan, and the steelpan art form overall. ...
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

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

Some accomplishments by the late great Anthony Williams as listed by former North Stars player David Maunday

-
Image
  Anthony Williams Some accomplishments by Anthony Williams as listed by former North Stars player  David Maunday Scientific Anthony Williams involved in putting pan on wheels in the late 1950s.   The placement of notes on the tenor pan in the 4th and 5th formation.   The grooving of notes on pans in a spider web pattern (more notes achieved).   Placement of notes on the six bass in fourths (a virtual lower extension of the tenor pan).   Placement of notes on their double second and 3 pan cello carries similar patterns making it easy for players to migrate from one section to the other.   Tony’s quality of tuning produced a very unique tone with his early use of harmonics.   Inventor of the 4 pan (a form of cello pan).   Anthony Williams made outsize pans (larger than the standard 55 gallon drums) using sheath metal which he tuned [into] some tenor pans, cellos and bass, some of which were used on the Ivory and Steel Recordings in 1969. ...
Read more

Winning Panorama arranger Victor “Babu” Samuel, Len “Boogsie” Sharpe, Patrick “Stone” Johnson and the former Honorable Prime Minister Baldwin Spence

-
Image
  Panorama champion arrangers and Prime Minister - Pictured left to right: Patrick “Stone” Johnson, Len “Boogsie” Sharpe, the Honorable Prime Minister Baldwin Spencer, and 2010 winning Panorama arranger Victor “Babu” Samuel  Related content: The Maestro, Arranger, Composer and Versatile Panist. Steelband Panorama Champions of Antigua and Barbuda Halcyon Steel Orchestra Wins Antigua & Barbuda 2010 National Panorama Title - Victor “Babu” Samuel is winning arranger! Total Antigua & Barbuda Panorama Champions Scholar, educator, champion Panorama arranger, drummer and ace panist Victor “Babu” Samuel has passed
Read more

*National Junior Panorama 2023 - 21 and Under Category Preliminary: Northern Region*

-
Image
  Northern Region* Band #1: Trinidad All Stars Youth Steel Orchestra Tune of Choice: Dead or Alive - Shurwayne Winchester Arranger: Kygel Benjamin   Northern Region* Band #2: BP Renegades Youth Steel Orchestra Tune of Choice: Out and Bad - Voice Arranger: Sheldon Peters Northern Region* Band #3: Pandemonium Youth Steel Orchestra Tune of Choice: Pop ah Bottle - Machel Montano Arranger: Tyreel Green Northern Region* Band #4: Desperadoes Youth Steel Orchestra Tune of Choice: Peace of Mind - Voice Arranger: Nathaniel Flemming & Louis Rogers Northern Region* Band #5: Shell Invaders Youth Steel Orchestra Tune of Choice: Out and Bad - Voice Arranger: Rashaun Williams Northern Region* Band #6: Hadco Phase II Pan Groove Junior Steel Orchestra Tune of Choice: Soca Capital - Sekon Sta Arranger: Triston Marcano
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

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