Steelpan Music News - History and Culture

Herman “Rock” Johnston On this day April 30, 2001, Herman Johnston, who rocketed to fame from his native Trinidad with his innovative work on the steelpan music instrument, loses his battle with cancer at age 63. During a career that catapulted him from his native Trinidad to appearances at the United Nations, Lincoln Center, Radio City Music Hall and with the Boston Symphony at its summer festival in Tanglewood, Mr. Johnston's repertoire spanned musical genres, including rock, spiritual, classical, show tunes and Caribbean folk melodies. Related content: Legend -- Herman Johnston “Echophone” made by Herman “Rock” Johnston Herman Johnston - The Johnston Fantastic Symphony Steel Orchestra The Triple-s

  Robert Greenidge The legendary panist Robert Greenridge performing "Stardust" at Lincoln Center - 2006

 

The Ultimate Harry Belafonte Collection Related content Harry Belafonte, 96, Dies; Barrier-Breaking Singer, Actor and Activist

  Experience the creation of music from this Japanese American composer with host Scott Yoo using “found” instruments. To develop a music video, the two visit New York City and explore the creative process with an interactive light show and more. 

  New York Times Harry Belafonte, 96, Dies; Barrier-Breaking Singer, Actor and Activist Harry Belafonte, who stormed the pop charts and smashed racial barriers in the 1950s with his highly personal brand of folk music, and who went on to become a major force in the civil rights movement, died on Tuesday at his home on the Upper West Side of Manhattan. He was 96. The cause was congestive heart failure, said Ken Sunshine, his longtime spokesman. At a time when segregation was still widespread and Black faces were still a rarity on screens large and small, Mr. Belafonte’s ascent to the upper echelon of show business was historic. He was not the first Black entertainer to transcend racial boundaries; Louis Armstrong, Ella F s he did, and for a few years no one in music, Black or white, was bigger. itzgerald and others had achieved stardom before him. But none had made as much of a splash a Born in Harlem to West Indian immigrants, he almost single-handedly ignited a craze for Caribbean mus

Mr. Caldera Caraballo is a central figure in the history and development of the steelpan movement in the USA as a panist, organizer and promoter. From winning New York’s first-ever steelband competition to organizing the New York Panorama  Related content Meet Caldera Caraballo - Panist, Performing Artist, Steelband Promoter - UpClose! Casablanca Steel Orchestra

Ian Rosenbaum Praised for his “spectacular performances” (Wall Street Journal), and his “unfailing virtuosity” (Chicago Tribune), GRAMMY®-nominated percussionist Ian Rosenbaum has developed a musical breadth far beyond his years. As a passionate advocate for contemporary music, Mr. Rosenbaum has premiered over one hundred new chamber and solo works. He has collaborated with and championed the music of established and emerging composers alike, from Andy Akiho, Christopher Cerrone, and Amy Beth Kirsten to John Luther Adams, George Crumb, and Paola Prestini. Mr. Rosenbaum was nominated for three GRAMMY® awards in 2021 for his performances on albums of music by Andy Akiho and Christopher Cerrone, including two nominations for Seven Pillars, an album by Sandbox Percussion released on Aki Rhythm Productions, a record label that Mr. Rosenbaum and Mr. Akiho founded in 2021. His recording of Andy Akiho’s LIgNEouS Suite with the Dover Quartet was nominated for a GRAMMY® award in 2022.

Andy Akiho performing on the steel drum with others as part of GREAT PERFORMANCES: NOW HEAR THIS "Andy Akiho Found (his) Sound” GREAT PERFORMANCES brings the best in the performing arts from across America and around the world to a U.S. television audience. It presents a diverse programming portfolio of classical music, opera, popular song, musical theater, dance, drama, and performance documentaries.

Composer Andy Akiho explains to host Scott Yoo how living in New York City shaped his composing and performs his piece “Aka.”    Watch on PBS

The Royal Police Force of Antigua and Barbuda extends heartiest congratulations to Victor "Babu" Samuel for achieving this most deserving national award. #RPFAB #forceofexcellence Victor ‘Babu’ Samuel – Governor General’s Faithful and Meritorious Service Medal – Gold, for meritorious performance in Music Born on April 19th 1958, Victor Samuel spent his early years growing up in Church Lane in the City of St. John’s. In 1966 he moved with his family to the Grays Farm Community. Young Victor experienced primary school at the St. John’s Boy’s School, where inspired by his musician uncle, Mr. Pat King, he was drawn to membership in the school’s steel band in 1971. As his educational experience advanced to the Antigua Grammar School, his interest in pan music did not wane. He enlisted in the Supa Stars Steel Band which was led by Mr. Cornell Brookes and had made his secondary school its home. This was where he also got his nickname Babu. African in origin, the elders in t

Panist Mr. Caldera Carabello has passed Mr. Caldera Carabello Global - Mr. Caldera Caraballo is a central figure in the history and development of the steelpan movement in the USA as a panist, organizer and promoter. From winning New York’s first-ever steelband competition to organizing the New York Panorama, get an insight into the impact of Caraballo on Pan in New York. Related info Meet Caldera Caraballo - Panist, Performing Artist, Steelband Promoter - UpClose!

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 would beat me.”

Beverly Griffith (born April 18, Trinidad) 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 Orchestra. His interest then turned to arranging music for large steel pan orchestras. He was a Champion and Master arranger for Desperadoes Steel Orchestra. He later became a steel pan musician and vocalist and entertained all over the United States. Related content  Beverly Griffith Champion Panorama Arranger -bio Beverly Griffith - Trinidad & Tobago Panorama Revisited Beverly Griffith on When Steel Talks history of pan Timeline Obituary of Beverly Ruthven Griffith

  ClemBazBand Sunday Band Calyps' All Stars Results ClemBazBand Sunday Band Calyps' All Star Judges Michelle Huggins-Watts Fanny Broueilh Ludo Perez Tracy Thornton Andy Narrel

New Dimension Steel Orchestra won their sixth Pan Xpressions competition with a score of 278 points. The following is the Results of Pan Xpressions. Nexa New Dimension playing - Fantasy -  arranger Cordell Byam  - 278 points Republic Bank Angel Harps playing - Could you be Loved , - arranger James Clarkson  - 259 points Co-op Bank Commancheroes playing This is why I love you -  arranger Andre Greenidge -245 points Grand Roy Pan Angels playing Sweet Caroline  - arranger Lincoln "Bosco" Samuel - 194 points

Grand Roy Pan Angels playing, Sweet Caroline Nexa New Dimension playing Fantasy Republic Bank Angel Harps playing Could you be loved Co-op Bank Commancheroes playing This is Why I love You

Desperadoes Steel Orchestra new Pan Theater officially opened  April 16, 2023 

Featuring the NIU Steelband Concert, University Steelband, CSA Steelband and special guests. Liam Teague, director, NIU Steelband Jalen Charles and Josh Bedeau, directors, University Steelband

  A member of his band died as they travel through America's segregated South when he was denied water for his medication. Check out this WST special by Doris Green   Global - Born in Trinidad, Rudy King is known as the first person to bring the steel pan to United States in 1949. He started his first band in Brooklyn the same year. Rudy moved to Harlem in 1950 on 112 th Street between St. Nicholas and Seventh Avenues and continued his band. He later moved to 123 rd Street and Morningside Avenue and then returned to Brooklyn. Rudy called his band Tropican. In appearances at the Brooklyn Academy of Music in May 12, 1956, he was billed as the Trinidad Panamonic Steel Band and at other concert halls he was known as Rudolph King and his Trinidad Steel Band. read more

This is the way... The Mandalorian soundtrack, which was composed by Swedish musician Ludwig Göransson.   Göransson has a body of work that makes him worthy of providing music for the popular Disney+ series. Göransson won an Oscar in 2019 for the Black Panther score and has been nominated this year for Black Panther: Wakanda Forever. He has also won two Emmys for The Mandalorian and several Grammys. Goransson also received much acclaim for his work with writer-actor-musician Donald Glover aka Childish Gambino. Göransson reportedly met writer-actor-musician Donald Glover while composing for the NBC show Community. Since then, the two men have worked together on a number of Childish Gambino (Glover’s stage name) projects, including the widely praised album Awaken, My Love and the popular song “This Is America.”

An interview with the late Rudy King Rudy King at WST studios The year was 1949, and the music scene in America would never be the same. That is the year that Rudy King, aka 'Rock' and 'Rudolph Carter' - (to those who knew him as a young boy/man in his native Trinidad) came to America, bringing with him the knowledge of manufacturing and playing the instrument now known worldwide as the Steelpan.   click to learn more

When Steel Talks Flashback - Khan Cordice in the Spotlight - An exclusive interview with the then youthful musician, arranger and performing steelpan artist from Antigua & Barbuda. With a love for singing and versatile on the saxophone, Khan also mastered the recorder while at school; but it is the pan which has superseded all other instruments to develop into his primary passion. See interview https://www.panonthenet.com/spotlight/2008/kordice-12-27-08.htm #SteelpanMusicExcellence   # KhanCordice  

When Steel Talks -- Looking back - Andre White New York, USA  - As 2009 comes into focus, for André White - 2008 has been that ‘year to remember.’ For this young musician who set the steelband world on its ear, life will never be the same. New York steelband Panorama veteran arrangers – some previous competition winners themselves - had to respectfully duff their hats to André White in the early hours of Sunday September 1 - when his arrangement of Amrit Samaroo’s  Heat  as executed by his band, Long Island’s one hundred-strong  ADLIB Steel Orchestra , made them New York Panorama champions for the first time ever, and by default conferring upon him, the title of ‘ champion arranger .’ But the additional history-making element is André’s age. He was a mere eighteen years old. See more

Brooklyn, New York, USA - Basement Recordings captures Despers USA Steel Orchestra as they prepare for the 2019 New York steelband Panorama competition just days before the event. Despers USA Steel Orchestra performed an Odie Franklin-arrangement of “Iron Love.” This is the ‘cool down’ version. The annual New York Panorama is a major highlight and precursor to the West Indian American Carnival Day Parade.

  Maria Alonzo, a teacher at Holy Name, was the proud creator of this group. She and her students started the group as means of an extracurricular activity and expose the girls to charity works. Along with the visiting hospitals and the sick, the girls came together and composed their own music and songs such as ‘Sing out my Soul’, ‘Here O Lord’ and many other songs which are still sung today. Maria Goretti is the patron saint of youth that gave this wonderful group its name. After 49 years, the group flourished and became a successful charity group that spreads Maria Alonzo’s passion and love all around Trinidad. Unfortunately, Maria died August 2nd. Although it is an emotional time, the Goretti members will always remember the motto she taught them: ‘If I can help somebody with a word or song then my living shall not be in vain.’ Listen 

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  When Steel Talks extends a very special Happy Birthday to one of the great people in pan - panist, administrator, visionary and historian Hueloy Lila Yip Young .  Hueloy is one of the founding members of Harmonites Steel Orchestra . Related content Hueloy - Cultural Promoter

  Victor Provost Outstanding teaching is an integral part of Mason’s mission and is deserving of significant recognition. The Teaching Excellence Awards are both institutional recognition and a monetary acknowledgment of the significant work that faculty members devote to course planning and preparation; curriculum development; and innovative teaching, advising, and mentoring. Victor was awarded a highly competitive, university-wide Adjunct Faculty Teaching Excellence Award by the Peter Stearns Center for Teaching and Learning! Faculty are nominated and must put together an extensive portfolio including the following: growth and development as an educator, student and learner engagement, assessment of student learning and achievement and finally, teaching effectiveness and impact. Victor will attend a celebration and reception in April in honor of all the awardees and will be presented a plaque and stipend by the university. Victor Provost performing with New York University Steel

  When Steel Talks (WST) extends Happy Birthday greetings to veteran ace panist, educator and arranger  Kenrick Headley Kenrick Headley See more

  When Steel Talks - Reboot Nellie Bly - The woman behind the 55-gallon Steel Oil Drum - USA Celebration of Women and the Steelpan Art Form USA -  She was among the most famous journalists of her day as a reporter for the New York World. Less known about Nellie Bly is her role in creating the 55-gallon steel oil drum...  The 55-gallon steel drum - used practically globally, for the creation of the musical instruments of the steelpan music family - was created by Ms Bly. Although originally created for the storage of crude oil, the steel drums have been, and remain - the de facto raw material standard for the steelpan instrument. See more