Site Map * Site Search Events * Pan Global * Message Board * Guest Book * Pan News * Pan Radio * Pan New York * About Us

Spotlight
 

Spotlight

 

 
 
<<< If video does not auto start click on link
http://www.pantonic.com/media/RayHollman2.wmv

 

Ray Holman
Composer, Arranger, Panist, Educator

New York - When Steel Talks continues its exclusive series of interviews with the legendary Ray Holman who visited WST studios on a cool 2004 Autumn  afternoon.  There was much to hear from this well-respected luminary in the pan world. From his beginnings in his Ana Street, Woodbrook, Trinidad home, where he would hear the bands passing by, he talks about how he joined his first band, Invaders at age thirteen (13). Interestingly while his father and uncle were not exactly pleased with his steelband membership, Holman says his mother was not too concerned.  Within Invaders he worked with Ellie Mannette and Birdie Mannette, and Emmanuel "Jack" Riley who Holman describes as not only his icon, but that of many other players.  As he put it, "everybody wanted to play like Jack."

 If video does not auto start click on link >>> http://www.pantonic.com/media/RayHollman2.wmv

   
In Touch  - the latest by one the most respected steelpan musicians - Ray Holman  composer, steelband arranger and performer

 

 

A must have for the serious steelpan music lover...
http://www.panonthenet.com/bands/pantonic/tonicyam2.htm

 

 

Ray Holman Interview Tid Bits

Ray Holman joined  Invaders Invaders (1957 -1962) and  learned from the great players in the band.  Ellie Mannette was the leader....  Emmanuelle "Jack" Riley was was the best player and influenced him greatly - "he was our hero"....    Ray was the first person to introduce his own original composition as the panorama tune for his band... Robert Greenidge and Len 'Boogsie' Sharpe would follow in later years...  He caught heat initially but felt the idea was correct.  Loves jazz , classical and calypso music....  Listened to the top American composers as a youth...

On Pan's future - Ray believes "people must prove themselves in the field"... "The most important thing now is the training of the arrangers and tuners."   "Why must everything [pan music] be a competition?  Why not have a festival of music?"

On panorama - Anthony Williams was the first to take legitimate steps showing what could be done with a calypso.  He was always more interested in "creating something that will last" than something that would win panorama... Panorama was  initially a blessing because of the rudimentary music.  Panorama has become formula music... Judges are incompetent and still are..  Ray  wonders "how is the music going to improve if it is being guided/adjudicated by people who don't know?  You can't have the blind leading the sighted!  Music has to be better directed".

Related links and stories

Share your opinions
Email:
opinions@panonthenet.com

 

 

   

Advertisement

Caribbean Vibe Magazine
 

Advertisement

Pan In New York 2004

An educational, historical, cultural and artistic masterpiece that showcases one of the most vibrant live music performance movements in the United States today...
[more]
 

Site Map * Site Search Events * Pan Global * Message Board * Guest Book * Pan News * Pan Radio * Pan New York * About Us

 

 

 
What pan do you play if any?

What is your name of your band or favorite band?

Where are you from?

E-mail address?

What is your web site?

Let us hear your views