Rondell Pompey

Rondell Pompey was born and bred in John John, Port-of-Spain, Trinidad and Tobago on September 7^th 1971. Most of the older folk in his family were members of Carib Tokyo Steel Orchestra, so it was no surprise when Pompey (as he is fondly called), became interested in steelpan. As a matter of fact, Pompey would cut school to be involved with steelpan music. In 1979, at age 8, he became a young member of Carib Tokyo panside as a percussionist, a position he held for many years.

In 1992 musician, composer and panist Ray Holman noticed Pompey and invited him to play drums with Trintoc Invaders Steel Orchestra for the music festival in Trinidad and Tobago that year.

As a teenager, Pompey took a keen interest in politics and in 1992, being an avid supporter of the long-reigning political party, PNM (People’s National Movement), he borrowed steelpans from Carib Tokyo and also from Government Printery and recruited some of his friends and acquaintances to play for the PNM.

Also in 1992, Pompey formed the band Spree Simon Harmonics Steel Orchestra and entered his first Panorama competition in 1993 as a “Pan ‘Round De Neck” band, placing 10^th. In 1994 they also placed 10^th but in 1995, they won the National “Pan ‘Round De Neck” competition.

In 1997 Pompey and his band Spree Simon Harmonics visited the USA and participated in Brooklyn’s New York Labor Day Parade and also brought out a J’Ouvert Mas but did not ‘place.’

In that same year, Pompey, together with a few band members, migrated to the USA and took up residence in Philadelphia. Pompey contacted and rounded up a few friends and acquaintances from other Caribbean islands to form Philadelphia Pan Stars Steel Orchestra (also called Philly Pan Stars).

As founder of the group, Rondell Pompey functions in multiple capacities. Presently he is the captain of the band, its manager and drummer. 

Philadelphia Pan Stars celebrates twenty-five years of existence in 2024, and Pompey was one of two drummers with the band as it competed in the annual New York Panorama competition once more.  The band achieved its highest placing to date in this event - third.