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United Kingdom
- The following is a lasting memory
I have of the greatness of Clyde
and his captivating music. This
episode of my life is often relived
when his music is played.
In 1998,
Clive Bradley musically directed
Nutones Steel Orchestra to capture
the coveted title of National Panorama
Champs with his captivating arrangement
of David Rudder’s ‘High Mas’. In
1999, he returned ‘up de hill’ to
his old haunt, Desperadoes. Initially
there were mixed feelings of using
Bradley’s musical talents instead
of Robbie Greenidge’s but he soon
changed that with his musicality.
WITCO Desperadoes won the 1999 North
Zonal Finals amassing a convincing
460 points with their nearest rival,
Phase 11 Pan Groove, trailing by
17 points. Phase 11 continued to
trail Despers in the National semi-finals
but narrowed their lead to 15 points.
 Feelings
were running high as Pan lovers
congregated at the ‘Big Yard’ on
February 13th 1999, to witness the
finals of the National Panorama
finals. Fonclaire was billed to
perform first at 8 o’clock. Half
an hour after the scheduled time
Fonclaire still had not taken to
the stage. Their pans had not arrived
from South Trinidad and inevitably
they were disqualified. BWIA Invaders
who should have appeared second
took to the stage in first position.
Pan lovers were treated to an explosion
of ‘Sweet Pan’ throughout the show.
The North & Grand Stands were packed
and the atmosphere was buzzing.
Then at position 10 when Solo Pan
Knights were due to appear Fonclaire
took to the stage even though they
were disqualified. In the finals
of such an important competition,
with tensions running high, why
was Fonclaire allowed to play. Speaking
to Robbie Greenidge after the show
he stated ‘We were ready to go,
the band had finished their warm
up on ‘the pitch’ and about to take
to the stage when Fonclaire was
allowed on. They upset our rhythm
and broke the adrenalin rush we
had established.’
But the
night belonged to Desperadoes who
played in final position; they started
the competition how they meant to
finish with Clyde’s musical masterpiece
being executed with timely precision.
Clyde’s rendition of Oba’s ‘In My
House’ certainly personified Oba’s
message. On that night he left everyone
open-mouthed at what a man and a
pan can do. Desperadoes produced
the most sensational performance;
they sizzled and took the crown.
Once again Bradley had commandeering
himself and his band to the winners’
podium. His musical prowess in the
competition continued with Nutones
who had captured third place with
his musical arrangements. Bradley
then went on to achieve the hat
trick of wins with Desperadoes in
2000. What an end to the century.
Clyde has duly given more than his
fair share to the art form, his
music will continue to inspire many
young and aspiring pan musicians
for a very long time.
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Robbie Joseph,
is the PRO for the British Association
of Steelbands. In the 1990s, Robbie
was writing for the Socanews magazine
and was able to establish a page
dedicated to Pan entitled, ‘Down
in the Panyard’. He is also the
creator of the
Pan Podium
- a site dedicated
to promoting the work of steelbands
and pannists in the UK and around
the World ...
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