Toussaint and
Original Members of Barbados All Stars
United Kingdom - The Rainbow Steel
orchestra celebrated their 50th anniversary in Bath, England making
it the oldest Black and Minority Ethnic organisation based within
Bath and East Somerset. Wednesday May 16th 2007 saw the launch of
their Exhibition and DVD – Rainbow Steel Band – ‘50 Glorious Years –
from Barbados to Bath’ at the Bath Pump Rooms.
To acknowledge the
band’s contribution to and achievements within the city of Bath and
North East Somerset Council’s Corporate Equalities team working in
partnership with Bath and North East Somerset REC were awarded a
Heritage lottery grant to create an archive history of the band,
from their arrival in Bath to present day.
Working in partnership the Council, REC and Rainbow Steel Band have
collated a photographic exhibition and DVD of memories from players
past and present. The exhibition will be available to view at the
Bath Central Library between the 14th and 26th May 2007. Both the
exhibition and DVD show that Bath the world Heritage City famous for
its Roman, Georgian and Victorian heritage has become a
multicultural City, with different Black and Minority Ethnic
communities contributing to the ever changing history of the City.
The band originated in Barbados in the 1950’s and moved to the UK
after Hallam Ifill immigrated to the UK and was quickly followed by
the remaining members who settled in Bath and began performing under
the name of Barbados All Stars.
As time past, they started attracting younger players of which one
was Toussaint Clarke. Over the years most of the original members
migrated back to Barbados or retired from playing leaving Hallam and
Toussaint to develop and form a new band with new recruits. Rainbow
was born!
Toussaint has also become one of the leading UK and global pan
tuners and is supporting the British Association of Steel bands in
their many initiatives to further promote and develop the steel pan
art form in the UK.
Over the years Rainbow has gained National and International
recognition, playing for Royalty, touring Europe and the Caribbean.
In 1984, Rainbow toured Barbados affording them the opportunity to
return to its roots. Their current line-up includes the legendary
Earl Rodney, ‘The Grandfather of Steel pan’ who has been with
Rainbow since 1992, taking the band to a new dimension in playing
and arranging.
Rainbow’s story now forms part of the cultural archive for Bath and
North East Somerset.
Steel Pan Jazz Concert
in New York
David Rudder,
Robert Greenidge & Ralph
McDonald
Steelpan
Jazz comes to the House of Jazz at Lincoln Center in New York City
as Abstract Entertainment presents it annual Father's Day weekend
show. This year's concert will feature internationally famous
vocalist David Rudder, veteran steelpan master Robert Greenidge and
famed percussionist/recording artist Ralph McDonald. This
annual concert is one of the worlds most sought after steelpan music
events.
Steelpan
Jazz comes to the House of Jazz at Lincoln Center in New York City
as Abstract Entertainment presents it annual Father's Day weekend
show. This year's concert will feature internationally famous
vocalist David Rudder, veteran steelpan master Robert Greenidge and
famed percussionist/recording artist Ralph McDonald. This
annual concert is one of the worlds most sought after steelpan music
events.