Steelpan Music News - History and Culture

  The Anatomy of Panorama 2023 -  Grenada National Panorama Steelband Music Competition - Quick Chart Bands - Tunes - Arrangers See complete quick chart

 

‘Middle Finger’ sung by “Boyzie” 2023: Tune of choice  | Rainbow City All Stars Steel Orchestra -  Grenada Panorama 2023

‘On Yuh’ sung by “Boyzie” 2023: Tune of choice  | Pan Lovers Symphony -  Grenada Panorama 2023

‘Greater’ by “Dash” 2023: Tune of choice  | Grand Roy Pan Angels -  Grenada Panorama 2023

‘Warrior’ sung by “Black Wizard” 2023: Tune of choice  | Florida All Stars Steel Orchestra -  Grenada Panorama 2023

‘The Spirit Of Shadow’ sung by “Mr. Killa” 2023: Tune of choice  | Commancheros Steel Orchestra  -  Grenada Panorama 2023

‘Bouncing Low’ sung by “Tanglar” 2023: Tune of choice  | Angel Harps Steel Orchestra  -  Grenada Panorama 2023

Anthony Abdul Reid Let us tell them his story, how proud he was of them, and how inspired he was that after fifty (50) years the community steelband model is alive and still bearing new fruit. Know too Bub, that although we never followed through on our promise to parang with our brother for one last time, the times and love we shared were both real and appreciated. Farewell Abdul!!! Love and empathy to all your loved ones and friends. Read complete story

The bands have spoken. Take a listen... New York Panorama 2023's Tune of Choice ‘Engine Room’ sung by Olatunji

  See complete list

  New York, USA -  Steel orchestras are getting ready for Panorama 2023 in New York on Saturday September 2. It has been four years since the premiere steelband music competition had its showing, and many are chomping at the musical bit, anxious to be out of the gate... ....As usual, the omnipresent frustrating side of the New York Panorama season is the sourcing of affordable locations to call ‘home’ and pan yard for the few weeks of necessary practice for the competition. See more

Nicole Gibbons In Pictures - Pantonic Steel Orchestra - Ben Lion - Clive Bradley - NY Panorama 2002

  Steelband Sets All-Time Audience Record Related content Caribbean Youth Panoramics Rock Philadelphia US Youth Steelband Set All-Time Audience Record

Happy Birthday -  July 19th Ryan Osborne  Ryan Osborne is both an outstanding drummer and panist. Ryan on drums with CrossFire

2023 Tune of choice: “Festival Day” | arranger: Johnny Gonsalves Related content Gemonites bio history

  Rachel Annetta Isum Robinson was portrayed by Ruby Dee in the 1950 film The Jackie Robinson Story and by Nicole Beharie in the 2013 film 42

Happy Birthday -  July 18th Aisha Joseph For Aisha, the most rewarding feeling from playing the steelpan is experiencing the unity and bond formed with team members. Additionally, seeing the younger generation also developing a curiosity and love for this marvelous instrument makes her want to continue in any way possible to touch the lives of others and showcase to the world the beauty of the steelpan. Related content Biography - Aisha Joseph Meet Earle Wong - Tuner, Recording Artist, Educator, Panist and Engineer

Global - “Opus Pocus” by Jaco Pastorius, featuring Othello Molineaux and Leroy Williams on steelpan - from the album “JACO PASTORIUS” released in 1976 by Epic/Legacy... Listen performance

  Watch --- St. Lucia Carnival 2023 - Parade of the Bands: Tuesday Mas - Live Stream https://www.panonthenet.com/live-stream/2023/carnival/st-lucia-carnival-parade-of-the-bands-day-2-live-steam-7-18.htm  

Award-winning Exodus Steel Orchestra from Trinidad and Tobago thrilled thousands at the annual Republic Bank Pandemonium as a featured guest. Exodus Steel Orchestra   The one hundred and fifty-strong Barbados National Youth Steel Orchestra was also showcased as it wowed the crowd with its wide and varied musical set loaded with hits. Barbados National Youth Steel Orchestra The seven-hour-plus concert provided a day filled with activities for family, friends and steelpan music lovers. Huge crowd on site taking in the sweet Sounds of Steel Julie Williams (captain of Exodus) The massive outpouring of support displayed a continued and ongoing positive love between Barbados and Pan. 

Saint Lucia, W.I. - The 2023 St. Lucia Parade of the Bands for Monday Mas is July 17. This is a live stream of the event. Watch stream

Jared McCallister When Steel Talks extends birthday greetings to NY Daily News veteran journalist Jared McCallister.

  Pan and music lovers, this one is for you Enjoy the sweet sounds of steel pan and indulge in the culinary flavours of Barbados at the Republic Bank Pandemonium - the largest pan event of the season! Experience the infectious vibes and magic of steel pan as we feature the 150-strong Barbados National Youth Steel Orchestra and several other steel orchestras, plus guest act from Trinidad & Tobago Republic Bank Exodus Steel Orchestra We have something for everything, so bring your family and friends for a fun-filled day at the National Botanical Gardens. Live Stream

 Watch Live Stream Time:  July 17, 2023  from 4am to 1pm Location:  Castries City Circuit Event Type:  j'ouvert Organized By: St Lucia Carnival The carnival action in St Lucia officially begins with J’ouvert which is the opening street party, that begins before dawn! Yes, it actually does, in fact the word J’ouvert stems from the French word for day break. It is a spontaneous celebration where carnival-goers get covered head to toe in mud, body paint, powder or foam. There are loads of fun, dancing and music in true St Lucian style!

 

‘ Ben A Benna ’ sung by  Burning Flames   2023: Tune of choice  |   Panache Steel Orchestra  -  Antigua & Barbuda Panorama 2023

‘ Up and Coming ’ sung by  “Redding”   2023: Tune of choice  |   Halcyon Steel Orchestra  -  Antigua & Barbuda Panorama 2023

 Johann Michael Chuckaree  Johann Michael Chuckaree Relevant content Johann Chuckaree, His Story – a review

  Ronica Gordon Happy Birthday to Ronica Gordon July 14 Her vision for Pan - “For the national instrument to be treated as such, for pan men and women to be secured after retirement, for steelpan to reach as far as being featured on the Grammys and also to be a popular instrument which artists from across the world would use to create their music.....” -- Ronica Gordon Related content Meet Ronica Gordon - Trinidad and Tobago

‘ Stressless ’ sung by  Claudette Peters   2023: Tune of choice  |   Westside Symphony Steel Orchestra  -  Antigua & Barbuda Panorama 2023

‘ Roaming ’ sung by  Tian Winter   2023: Tune of choice  |   Ebonites Steel Orchestra  -  Antigua & Barbuda Panorama 2023

‘ Nat U ’ sung by  Claudette Peters   2023: Tune of choice  |   Original Steel Orchestra  -  Antigua & Barbuda Panorama 2023

‘ T.A.N.Y.A. (Liberta Riddim) ’ sung by  “Menace”   2023: Tune of choice  |   Harmonites International Steel Orchestra  -  Antigua & Barbuda Panorama 2023

‘ No Weapon ’ sung by  Tian Winter   2023: Tune of choice  |   Hells Gate Steel Orchestra  -  Antigua & Barbuda Panorama 2023

  Josh Quillen

 Watch --- Carnival Tuesday Vincy Mas 2023 - Live Stream Saint Vincent and the Grenadines, W.I. - Vincy Mas 2023 is on! Carnival Tuesday in the country is being live streamed. https://www.panonthenet.com/live-stream/2023/carnival/st-vincent-carnival-tuesday-vincy-mas-2023-7-11.htm #stvincentandthegrenadines

  St. Lucia National King & Queen of the Bands 2023 - Live Stream https://www.panonthenet.com/live-stream/2023/carnival/st-lucia-king-and-queen-of-the-bands-live-stream-7-10-2023.htm #stluciacarnival2023

TRADITIONAL JOUVERT 2023 - VINCYMAS

 When Steel Talks St. Lucia National Panorama Results - Babonneau Steel Orchestra Cops Seventh Title with Champion Arranger Allison Marquis Babonneau Steel Orchestra Castries, Saint Lucia, W.I. - Babonneau Steel Orchestra reaffirmed its status as the champion band in St. Lucia when they came out on top in the country's annual national steelband Panorama on Sunday July 9 at the SAB, Vigie. The band followed the direction of resident arranger Allison Marquis who took care of musical business with his arrangement of Sufferer’s Song aka “Malaway” by Ashanti. See complete RESULTS   https://www.panonthenet.com/stlucia/2023/st-lucia-2023-national-panorama-results-7-10-2023.htm #SteelpanMusicExcellence #stluciapanorama2023

  Watch -- St. Lucia National Panorama 2023 - Live Stream https://www.panonthenet.com/live-stream/2023/st-lucia-steelband-panorama-live-stream-7-9-2023.htm Showtime is scheduled for 8:00 p.m.

Legendary British funk group Cymande emerged from a lengthy hiatus and performed on KCRW’s Morning Becomes Eclectic. Their 1972 self-titled album is held in high regard and influence for many current artists and you’ll see why when you revisit this stellar session. Set List:  0:00 Brothers On The Slide 4:35 Crawshay 11:26 Bra 15:56 Do It (This Time With Feeling) 20:19 The Message

Live from the Villiam Peter Boulevard in Downtown Castries

  See complete list of participants

  Allison Marquis -  Babonneau Steel Orchestra Panorama Championships    St. Lucia -  2011, 2012, 2017, 2018, 2019, 2022 click for more on Allison Marquis

When Steel Talks   Pantime Steel Orchestra    Ready for St. Lucia national Panorama 2023   2023 Tune of choice: “Anba Goj” | arranger: Amrit Samaroo https://www.panonthenet.com/history/bands/stlucia/pantime-steel-orchestra-bio.htm   #SteelpanMusicExcellence #stluciapanorama2023

 When Steel Talks Laborie Steel Pan Ready for St. Lucia National Panorama 2023 2023 Tune of choice: “Wine On Your Boom Boom” | arranger: Andrius Edwide https://www.panonthenet.com/history/bands/stlucia/laborie-steelpan-bio.htm #SteelpanMusicExcellence #stluciapanorama2023

𝙾𝚛𝚍𝚎𝚛 𝚘𝚏 𝙰𝚙𝚙𝚎𝚊𝚛𝚊𝚗𝚌𝚎 𝙶𝚛𝚘𝚘𝚟𝚢 𝚂𝚘𝚌𝚊 𝙼𝚘𝚗𝚊𝚛𝚌𝚑 𝙵𝚒𝚗𝚊𝚕𝚜 𝟷. 𝙱𝚕𝚊𝚒𝚣𝚎 - 𝚃𝚎𝚖𝚙𝚎𝚛𝚊𝚝𝚞𝚛𝚎 𝟸. 𝙴𝚣𝚛𝚊 𝙳 𝙵𝚞𝚗 𝙼𝚊𝚌𝚑𝚒𝚗𝚎 - 𝙲𝚑𝚘 (𝙷𝚘𝚝 𝙷𝚎𝚊𝚍) 𝟹. 𝙰𝚕𝚙𝚑𝚊 - 𝚂𝚖𝚘𝚔𝚎 𝟺. 𝙲𝚊𝚛𝚕𝚝𝚘𝚗 𝚁𝚘𝚋𝚎𝚛𝚝𝚜 - 𝙵𝚕𝚢 𝟻. 𝚁𝚒𝚌𝚔𝚢 𝚃 - 𝙽𝚎𝚟𝚎𝚛 👑 𝟼. 𝙰𝚛𝚝𝚑𝚞𝚛 - 𝙵𝚎𝚎𝚕𝚒𝚗𝚐 𝙸𝚛𝚒𝚎 𝟽. 𝚀𝚙𝚒𝚍 - 𝙲𝚎𝚕𝚎𝚋𝚛𝚊𝚝𝚎 𝟾. 𝙸𝚖𝚛𝚊𝚖 𝙽𝚎𝚛𝚍𝚢 - 𝚄𝚗𝚎𝚖𝚙𝚕𝚘𝚢𝚎𝚍 𝟿. 𝙹𝚞𝚛𝚐𝚎𝚗 - 𝙻𝚊𝚢𝚊𝚠𝚊𝚢 𝟷𝟶. 𝚃𝙸 𝙱𝚕𝚊𝚌𝚔𝚜 - 𝙲𝚑𝚎𝚌𝚔 𝙺𝚠𝚘 ⠀ ⠀ 𝙿𝚘𝚠𝚎𝚛 𝚂𝚘𝚌𝚊 𝙼𝚘𝚗𝚊𝚛𝚌𝚑 𝙵𝚒𝚗𝚊𝚕𝚜 ⠀ 𝟷. 𝙸𝚜𝚕𝚊 𝙼𝚊𝚗 - 𝙲𝚛𝚊𝚣𝚒𝚗𝚎𝚜𝚜 𝟸. 𝙸𝚖𝚛𝚊𝚗 𝙽𝚎𝚛𝚍𝚢 - 𝙲𝚕𝚘𝚌𝚔 𝙾𝚞𝚝 𝟹. 𝙴𝚣𝚛𝚊 - 𝙷𝚎𝚕𝚕𝚘 𝙲𝚊𝚛𝚗𝚒𝚟𝚊𝚕 𝟺. 𝚂𝚞𝚋𝚊𝚗𝚌𝚎 - 𝚂𝚞𝚎 𝚂𝚊𝚢 𝟻. 𝙱𝚛𝚘𝚗𝚡 & 𝙼𝚊𝚝𝚊 - 𝙱𝚊𝚕𝚊𝚗𝚌𝚎 𝟼. 𝙵𝚛𝚘𝚜𝚜 - 𝙱𝚊𝚗𝚐𝚔𝚘𝚔 👑 𝟽. 𝚂𝚕𝚊𝚌𝚔 - 𝙳𝚘𝚗’𝚝 𝚊𝚜𝚔 𝙼𝚎 𝚏𝚘𝚛 𝙼𝚘𝚗𝚎𝚢 𝟾. 𝚂𝚑𝚎𝚖𝚖𝚢 𝙹 - 𝙱𝚒𝚛𝚍 𝙱𝚘𝚜𝚜 𝟿. 𝙽𝚒𝚗𝚓𝚊 𝙳𝚊

Silver tones” - Saint Lucia’s first all-female steel pan group -- photo:  Lucius Alexander  When Steel Talks The Story of Steelbands and the Steelband Art Form in St. Lucia - UpClose! St. Lucia, W.I. - The history of Steel pan in Saint Lucia dates much farther back than Saint Lucia’s independence, even farther than many today can recall vividly enough to attribute its introduction to any one individual. However various names are almost always spoken with respect to this. Lennard “Scrub” Wellington, Augustus “Pan” Andrew are two very instrumental names in the history pan music in Saint Lucia soon to be followed by Roderick Walcott, Antonius “Sycra” Gibson, the Emmanuel brothers, Ivan Smith and more recently with individuals such ac Allison Marquis. The influence and substantive importance of this art form to Saint Lucia is vastly understated by the silence of blank sheets of history or small scribbles here and there in photo albums arid notebooks of the valiant patriots of the Steel p

Kingstown, Saint Vincent and the Grenadines, W.I. - One of the two large steel orchestras in the country - title defender Starlift Steel Orchestra, maintained its championship status for the 2023 National Panorama competition. This year, their arranger was Danté Pantin of Trinidad and Tobago’s Starlift Steel Orchestra. His work with Winston Soso’s How Some Men Love They Women aka “Big Bottom” led the band to a first place score of 275 points. See complete results

During the 1950’s steelband competition was a regular feature of Carnival celebrations. This included not only a band competition, but, also a tenor pan competition for individual players noted for their dexterity. These were the early pioneers. Participants were called upon to play a “test piece” which was usually a non calypso. Bands also played a test piece non calypso in slow tempo followed by a calypso of choice. That calypso of choice had to be a newly released calypso for the particular year of competition and before 1970 was usually one out of Trinidad and Tobago. Steelbands have come from all parts of St. Vincent and the Grenadines. From Chateaubelair, Fancy and Union Island they have journeyed to Kingstown to compete in the Panorama Competition. See More

‘ How Some Men Love They Women aka “Big Bottom” ’ sung by  Winston Soso   2023: Tune of choice  |   Starlift Steel Orchestra SVG  -  St. Vincent Panorama 2023

 Ready for St. Lucia 2023 National Panorama Andrius Edwide  Andrius Edwide - arranger - Laborie Steel Orchestra See full info https://www.panonthenet.com/tnt/2012/arrangers/carib/stlucia/andrius-edwide.htm #steelpanMusicExcellence #stluciacarnival2023  

2023 St, Vincent National Panorama Kingstown, Saint Vincent and the Grenadines, W.I. - Six steel orchestras are slated to take on and attempt to dethrone 2022 Panorama champions Starlift Steel Orchestra at the July 6 competition. In the Panorama segment of Steel and Glitter unfolding at Carnival City, Victoria Park in Kingstown, steelpan enthusiasts and music and culture lovers in general will revel in the sound of steel during the country's annual Carnival season. See  Order of Appearance & Quick Chart

Kingstown, Saint Vincent and the Grenadines, W.I. - The defending champs in the country’s Junior Panorama, Starlift Steel Orchestra Juniors, successfully defended their title - appearing with thirty-five players, the second largest band taking the stage. And the orchestra copped that title with the youngest arranger in the event, Mitchell Israel-Duharte. He arranged Hance John’s All I Need scoring 245 points, and coming in at number one saw the band leaving with the top cash prize of EC $10,000.00.  See full results

  Ron Emrit  When Steel Talks continues its "Spotlight Series" of shedding light on people who have quietly made significant contributions to the steelband movement. Today we focus on Mr. Ronald Emrit whose work and contribution When Steel Talks recently hailed as Site of the Week in our online pan news section. Through his creation of the "Cultural and Sports History of Trinidad & Tobago" website, Mr. Emrit has put together, what When Steel Talks sees as one of the most relevant and comprehensive online resources on Trinidad & Tobago culture. In addition, Mr. Emrit's steelband web information [Steelband - The Beginning] provides the world with some of the most factual and comprehensive information on the people involved with this magical instrument. Relevant content Mr. Ronald Emrit

An evening featuring two Queens of Soca, Alison Hinds and Nailah Blackman, as they celebrate the strength of Caribbean women in their first appearance together on stage in NYC! One of the most popular soca singers in the world and the very first Queen of Soca, Alison Hinds tours her signature sound around the world. She has produced many popular songs that top charts even in countries which do not widely listen to the genre. Singer/songwriter Nailah Blackman hails from soca royalty as the granddaughter of pioneer Ras Shorty I and daughter of former National Calypso Queen Abbi Blackman. One of Trinidad & Tobago's up-and-coming musical sensations, Blackman began her professional career at age 11 and has since won the BET Best New International Act in 2018. The pair will light our stage afire with the Soul of Calypso, blending funk, soul, and contemporary music styles to create an exuberant Carnival party!  

Saint Vincent and the Grenadines, W.I. - The junior National Panorama is front and center on Sunday July 2 at Victoria Park in Kingstown. Five steel orchestras compete. This is a broadcast of the event.

‘ All I Need ’ sung by  Hance John   2023: Tune of choice  |   Starlift Junior Steel Orchestra   -  St. Vincent Junior National Panorama 2023