On This Day in Pan -- The Legendary 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.

Comments

Post a Comment

Popular posts from this blog

When Steel Talks (WST) extends Happy Birthday greetings to veteran standout panist extraordinaire Caspar Durant

-
Image
 Caspar Durant Happy Birthday to Caspar Durant March 14th When Steel Talks extends Birthday Greetings to panist Caspar Durant “I grew up in Tripoli pan yard at the corner of Dengue and Finland Street in St James from the age of six months old in 1952, and lived there playing pan with them from 1959 till we went to Montreal Canada (Man and his world) in 1967. “I started playing Tenor pan on the road for carnival in 1959, though I was only seven years old and in those days it was pan round the neck, I was able to do so because my Dad Caspar Durant Senior would hold the pan for me and chip backwards all day while I played the pan with just the strap around my neck. “As mentioned above, I left Trin...
Read more

The passing of Gary “Soup” Harrigin

-
Image
Gary “Soup”  Harrigin Condolences on the passing of Master Tuner Roland Harrigin’s brother Gary Harrigin  aka  “Soup.” He was one of the brothers who took all of Roland’s pans to Rudolph Charles to hear once completed. Gary Harrigin was also very good in the making of the steelpan instrument as well. May Gary Rest in peace. Submitted by Lyndon Spencer
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

Band From Space - sung by “Crazy”

-
Image
‘ Band From Space ’ sung by “Crazy” 2023: Tune of choice  |   LH Pan Groove  -  Trinidad & Tobago Panorama Tune of Choice 2013 |  Our Boys  |  Couva Joylanders  -  Trinidad & Tobago Tune of Choice 2007 |  Desperadoes |  Renegades  |  Pan Glow  |  Pamberi  |  San City Steel Symphony  | - Trinidad & Tobago Tune of Choice 2007 |  Pantonic |  Adlib  |  Sesame Flyers  |     D'Radoes  | - New York   Tune of Choice 2007 |  Pantasia |  Real Steel  |  Croydon |  Glissando  - United Kingdom lyrics and more ‘Band From Space’ Music by Amrit Samaroo Lyrics by Edwin “Crazy” Ayoung ‘ Band From Space, ’  Amrit Samaroo explains, is a true ‘pan song’ in every sense of the word. He wrote it for the New York stage side steelban...
Read more

1976 - Lord Kitchener - Pan in Harmony - Desperadoes Steel Orchestra

-
Image
  Desperadoes Steel Orchestra wins the 1976 Panorama competition with a  Clive Bradley arrangement of "Pan in Harmony ". Champion Panorama Tunes of Trinidad & Tobago See comments from players, arrangers and fans who were actually there and lived it Relevant content 50-Plus Years of Champion Panorama Tunes Lord Kitchener and Pan Music: A Match Made in Heaven Lord Kitchener and Pan Music Have A Thing Going
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

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