When Steel Talks extends condolences to the family and friends of former Pan Trinbago president and panist Patrick Arnold, on his passing

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Patrick Arnold has passed

Patrick Arnold

Growing up in Tobago, Arnold began playing the steelpan with the Symphony Stars Steelband at the young age of twelve and, very soon after, was playing with the band at hotels and other venues in Tobago. Following a dispute, he was expelled from Symphony along with Lennard Nelson, Neville Defreitas, Ronald Campbell, Cecil Louis, and Earnest Lyons. 

With the money received by some of the expelled members from Symphony, three oil drums were purchased for the formation of a new steelband. Arnold was elected as the captain of the new steelband and he chose the name "Our Boys" while he was attending St. Mary's College in Trinidad and came upon the name in a magazine. 

Attending high school in Trinidad, Arnold played pan with the Casablanca Steelband where he became interested in tuning pans after observing the work of band members Oscar Pyle and Patsy Haynes. He later moved over to the Invaders Steelband where he was able to learn the art of pan-tuning by watching Ellie Mannette and Emmanuel Riley work.  -- Ronald C. Emrit

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