Rudolph Charles - Twenty Five Years Later, Steelband
Leader Still Exceptional
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- In a little
more than one
month - March
29th, to be
exact - it will
be twenty-five
years since
the death of
one of the
most
influential
figures in
the history
of the
steelpan
movement.
Rudolph
Valentino
Charles was
one of the
finest
leaders,
innovators
and
visionaries
ever
produced by
the twin
island
republic of Trinidad
and Tobago. His ideas, concepts
and products
still reverberate
in steelpan
music communities
globally today,
both in terms
of his inventions
and the people he
influences and
motivates. Moreover,
his thought
process and
vision went
way past the steelpan
art form.
The life and
deeds of Rudolph
Charles have
taken on legendary
and mythical
proportions
to those who
did not know
him. Indeed,
he will be forever immortalized
through the
David Rudder
smash soca hit and
tribute, “The
Hammer.” But for those
who new him
personally and
the community
that he served,
he remains as
real and relevant
as he was
twenty-five years
ago.
In an era that
produced special
men whose courage,
leadership skills,
intellectual
and creative
genius (the
likes of
whom have rarely
been seen since) - Rudolph
Charles of Desperadoes
Steel Orchestra
was indeed part
of this select
and very rare
breed.
He was noted
for several
inventions
and
innovations
including
the
nine-bass,
quadraphonic
pan, triple
tenor,
rocket bass,
and the
chroming of
steelpan
instruments
as well as
the use of
aluminum
canopies.
Anthony Williams
of North Stars
Steel Orchestra,
Bertie Marshall
of Highlanders
Steel Orchestra,
Neville Jules
of Trinidad
All Stars,
Ellie
Mannette of
Invaders, Rudolph
Charles and
a few others
- are part of
the elite few
who facilitated,
inspired and
demanded
greatness
from those who
would become
the future great
ones.
As an organizer,
motivator and
director, Charles
had few equals.
His relentless
pursuit of excellence
earned him the
highest accolades
from the likes
of the Prime
Minster of Trinidad
and Tobago -
the Honorable
Eric Williams,
the great
Neville
Jules and legendary
arranger and master
musician
Clive Bradley,
among many others.
It is always
possible to expand upon
that which exists.
But to be an original,
to be the first, and
to dare go where
no one has gone
before, and with success
- is
unique.
Twenty-five
years later
Rudolph Charles
is still
that -
unique.
Mythical - larger
than life.
From the Rudolph Charles' memoriam:
Rudolph Valentino Charles was born in Laventille. He was the forth of nine children born to Georgiana Charles and Sidney Charles. He attend Rosary Boys' R.C. and later Tranquility Boys' Government School.
His early years were always spent among people to whom he endeared himself by his leadership and guidance among his peers. His dedication to his community and his selfless devotion proved fruitful in all his endeavors. The many trophies attest to this. His most prized trophy, his wife Carol, was chosen from among the belles of Laventille.
He led his community and band with a togetherness that could only have been achieved by love and total commitment to the cause.
An untimely death, we mourn, and pray God that the seed planted will bear fruit...
The
Hammer by
David
Rudder
Somewhere
up in
Laventille
Many
years
ago
A man
had
a hammer
Used
to follow
him
to and
fro
He used
to use
it to
pound
a pan
Or sometimes
a stupid
man
All
in the
savannah
Never
miss
Panorama
One
day
the
old
hammer
just
disappear
Some
say
that
it vanish
into
thin
air
Where
de man
wid
de hammer
gone
Tell
me,
tell
me where
he gone
Anybody
know
where
de hammer
gone
Tell
me,
tell
where
he gone
Can
you
tell
we what
going
on
Tell
me,
tell
where
he gone
Ah want
to know
where
de hammer
gone
Tell
me,
tell
where
he gone
Why
you
up
and
leave,
trail
Why
you
make
me
grieve,
trail
Hammer
tell
me
flat,
trail
Why
you
do
we
dat,
trail
Well
the
dragon
doh
walk
the
trail
no
more,
Well
the
dragon
doh
walk
the
trail
no
more.
From
April
of
’85
Hammer
went
to
sleep
After
years
of
making
noise,
Not
even
a
peep
He
used
to
move
wid
de
dragon
man
All
through
this
soca
land
Always
on
the
scene
They
used
to
control
the
barber-green
But
the
dragon
doh
walk
the
trail
no
more
Who
holding
the
hammer
I
want
to
know.
Where
de
man
wid
de
hammer
gone
Tell
me,
tell
where
he
gone
Look
Thunderbolt
Williams,
what
going
on
Tell
me,
tell
where
he
gone
This
thing
like
a
police
boot
on
meh
corn,
Tell
me,
tell
where
he
gone
And
now
ah
hear
it
by
Y'De
Lima
on
pawn
Tell
me,
tell
where
he
gone
Look
children
Search
under
yuh
bed,
trail
All
above
yuh
head,
trail
Look
behind
the
door,
trail,
What
yuh
waiting
for,
trail
Well
the
dragon
doh
walk
the
trail
no
more,
Well
the
dragon
doh
walk
the
trail
no
more.
On a
silver
chariot
Riding
to
the
sun
Leaving
fire
in
its
wake
Spirits
on
the
run
As
we
gather
round
that
day
Ah
hear
sister
Sheila
say
How
last
night
she
see
a
sign
She
see
the
hammer
and
it
doing
fine
Same
time
thunder
roll
she
bawl
out
“You
see!”
He
done
start
to
tune
a
pan
already
Where
de
man
wid
de
hammer
gone
Tell
me,
tell
where
he
gone
Sister
Sheila
darling,
what
going
on
Tell
me,
tell
where
he
gone
This
hammer
giving
we a
heavy
horn,
Tell
me,
tell
where
he
gone
This
thing
like
a
police
boot
on
meh
corn,
Tell
me,
tell
where
he
gone
Children
Search
all
through
the
town,
trail
Turn
it
upside
down,
trail
Check
on
top
de
hill,
trail,
On
dat
window
sill,
trail
Well
the
dragon
doh
walk
the
trail
no
more,
Well
the
dragon
doh
walk
the
trail
no
more.
I
want
to
hear
the
hammer
ringing
out
From
every
panyard
From
Europe
to
Africa
Just
like
here
in
Trinidad
This
hammer
must
never
die
Let
me
tell
you
why
Anytime
the
music
dead
Is
then
life
go
buss
we
hed
So
the
children
start
singing
the
refrain
Begging
me
to
ask
the
question
again
Where
the
man
wid
de
hammer
gone
tell
me,
tell
me
where
he
gone
Search
up
in
Whitehall
Ransack
de
town
hall
And
if
we
eh
find
it
deh
Mus
be
Millette
who
take
it
away
Well
the
dragon
doh
walk
the
trail
no
more,
Well
the
dragon
doh
walk
the
trail
no
more.
Rudolph Charles - Twenty Five Years Later, Steelband
Leader Still Exceptional
