Noted calypso songwriter, producer, teacher, musician and
steel orchestra music arranger, Ulvin Belfast recently
passed away in Trinidad, W.I. Mr. Belfast worked with many
of the top Calypsonians and was instrumental in many of the
Mighty Sparrow's hits as an arranger and performer.
Renowned arranger and musician Pelham Goddard remembers
working with Belfast around 1972, when Goddard was in
rehearsal with Art de Coteau for a forthcoming trip to St.
Thomas, and Belfast was on hand for some of the artists who
were part of the line up, and for whom he had written music.
He is credited as one of the arrangers on
productions of veteran Jamaican musician Bryon Lee,
including Jamaica's Golden Hits, Vols. 1 and 2.
Additionally, Belfast worked with Carl 'Beaver' Henderson, Baron,
Virgin Island's King Styler
and Antigua & Barbuda's King Short Shirt, among others.
The illustrious musician was also known as the arranger for New York's Silhouettes Steel
Orchestra in the early 1990's, and instructed youths in the
art of playing the steelpan instrument within the New York
city public school system, where he served as a music instructor.
