Desperadoes

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About Desperadoes

Desperadoes Steel Orchestra

Their name is synonymous with greatness.  They are known all over the world and their musical feats are legendary.  Desperadoes Steel Orchestra hails from Laventille, Port of Spain, Trinidad and traces its beginnings back to the 1940's.  Desperadoes is considered by many to be simply the finest steel orchestra in the world.

Famous for it's music accomplishments,  Desperadoes has traveled all over the world performing it's famous classics such as "Rebecca" and "Pan In Harmony".  The group is equally famous for its larger-than-life characters - their late captain Rudolph Charles, and late master arranger Clive Bradley.

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The Charisma Label

Former journalist Tony Stratton-Smith ("Strat") started the Charisma label in 1969, signing up the acts he managed to the label. These included The Nice, Van Der Graaf Generator and a little later on, Genesis. At this time the label also boasted a book publishing house. It is said that one of the things that attracted acts to the label was that "Strats" allowed complete artistic freedom in the studio.

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Tony Stratton-Smith (1933-1987) was an English rock music manager, and entrepreneur. He was best known as founder of London based Charisma Records which he began in 1969. Charisma was one of the most influential independent record labels of the 1970's. Groups he managed included The Nice (featuring keyboard player Keith Emerson), Bonzo Dog Band and Van der Graaf Generator. In 1970 he signed the progressive rock band Genesis onto his record and management companies, and released Trespass, the band's sophomore album. Genesis became the label's most successful group. Charisma ceased most operations in 1979 and was sold to Virgin Records in 1983. Virgin re-activated the Charisma name with a new logo for a short time during the late 1980's.

"Strat" as he was known to his friends was famous for his sense of humor and flair for promotion. With an ear for unusual and highly creative talent he made Charisma very successful especially in it's early years. Though usually known as "Charisma Records", the company also promoted itself as "The Famous Charisma Label." His sense of humor was often reflected in promotional materials and record label art. Stratton-Smith released many records by Monty Python and helped to finance the film Monty Python and the Holy Grail. Other important artists Stratton-Smith was closely associated with include Atomic Rooster, Audience, Brand X, Phil Collins, Peter Gabriel, Steve Hackett, Peter Hammill, Lindisfarne, Julian Lennon, and Rare Bird. In the United States, Charisma Records recordings were often licenced to other labels such as ABC Records (including subsidiary lables Dunhill Records & Probe Records), Elektra Records, Buddha Records, Atlantic Records, Mercury Records, and Arista Records. Many Charisma Records recordings are now owned by EMI.

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