The History of SteelPan Timeline - Steelband History

• Lincoln "Delgado" Noel, master tuner - also known as the "Pan Doctor" was born in La Brea, San Fernando south Trinidad on the 26th October, 1938

• World War II (1939-1945)
  • Carnival suspended
  • Bands parade “illegally”
• 3-note ping-pong introduced
• Mikey Enoch, iconic New York steelpan tuner was born on February 7, 1939 in the village of Tunapuna, Trinidad, West Indies

Experimentation period begins

• Roaring Lion - first calypso ever composed for the steelband
  • Alexander Ragtime Band
• Brute Force (Antigua) - first band to use rubber on sticks to play bass
• Hollywood influence on band names (violence, force, terror, heroes & movies)
  • Hell Yard >> “All Stars”
  • Merry Boys >> “Casablanca”
  • Laventille Boys >> “Desperadoes”
  • River Lady >> “Destination Tokyo”
• Age of the “Badjohn”

• Invaders Steel Orchestra formed by Ellie Mannette

• Pat Bishop was born 7 May 1942, in Port of Spain, Trinidad
• Leo Coker - celebrated pan tuner - was born April 1, 1942

• Lennox "Bobby" Mohammed was born in 1943 and grew up in San Fernando.

• Ray Holman was born on April 22, 1944 in Woodbrook, Port-of-Spain, Trinidad
• Reynold Gillies known throughout the steelpan world as "Tony Slater" hailed from Port of Spain, Trinidad

• V.E. day (May)
• Hells Gate formed in Antigua click to read  more
• Tenor kettle (5 notes), ping pong, cuff boom, dudup (bass kettle) appear in the bands of revelers
• Developments (1945-1950)
  • sweet-oil drums (ping pong) sunk in convex fashion
    • 5 to 7 notes
    • drums held in one hand, rubberless stick in other
    • oil drum sunk in concave fashion
    • 15 notes with rubber-tipped sticks
  • competitions begin in Port of Spain & San Fernando
  • notes continue to be added to drums/instruments

• September 15, 1946, Carlton Roach won the first soloist competition which was sponsored by Mr. Renee Phillip of Belmont, Port-of-Spain.
• Red Army steelband from Trinidad tours Guyana in December 1946

• Red Army from Trinidad is the first steel band to visit British Guiana

• Guyana's first local Steel band competition was staged at the Georgetown Cricket Club. Three bands Casablanca, Tripoli and St. James Suffers, competed.
• Aruba is introduce to the steelpan by Leonard Turner, a Trinidadian immigrant who worked at the Lago Oil Refinery 
  | see more |

• Antigua Steelband Association formed - 8 members
  • “The Steelband Herald” published as its official paper
• “....steelbandsmen attained a standard of performance which equals if not surpasses that of the best there is in Trinidad....”, Sunday Guardian, January 26, 1951, p.17 - in commentary on Antiguan panmanship
• Antigua’s “Brute Force” steelband gets picture in “The Times Survey of the Colonies”
• Antigua’s Hells Gate is planned to represent West Indian steelbands in Festival of Britain
• Antigua’s Hells Gate wins Panorama with tune “Peanut Vendor.” see more
• St. Vincent and the Grenadines holds its first ever steelband competition. Saint Vincent and the Grenadines Caribbean Boys and Syncopaters tie for first place.  read more

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• Rudy King introduces Pan to America. Rudy King, aka 'Rock' and 'Rudolph Carter' - (to those who knew him as a young boy/man in his native Trinidad) came to America, bringing with him the knowledge of manufacturing and playing the instrument now known worldwide as the Steelpan; click for more

Hells Gate Steel Orchestra of Antigua & Barbuda in 1950

• Jit Sukha Samaroo - Dr. Jit Samaroo was born on 24 February, 1950, Lopinot, Trinidad.
• Steelband Committee setup by government to investigate steelband violence and to find solutions
  • Cannon M.E. Farquhar - chairman
  • George E. Mose - chief probation officer
  • Carlyle P. Kerr - solicitor
  • Lennox O. Pierre - solicitor
• Albert Gomes defends steelband men
• “Public should discipline Steelband prejudices”, January 8, Sunday Guardian “Behind the Curtain” column
• White college students play pan in streets of Port of Spain, later to become Texaco Dixieland
• Steelbands clash
  • Feb 21 Invaders attacks Tokyo (on Carnival Tuesday)
  • Mar 2 Casablanca & Invaders meet, agree to bury hatchet... meeting attacked... bombarded with stones & bottles...
  • Mar 6 More steelbands agree to end clashes, meeting at Old Prison Quarry, more than 500 members and supporters present from March Hill 60, Invaders, Casablanca, Destination Tokyo, Crusaders, Merry Maker, All Stars and Desperadoes
• Cannon Farquhar defends steelband men
  • link to “dark past of slavery, plus a century of economic deprivation”, March 12, Sunday Guardian
• Carnival Parade of Bands begin in the Savannah  -- Trinidad
• Steelband Association formed by Lennox Pierre & Carlyle Kerr
  • President Sidney Gallop of Crusaders
  • 76 bands joined
  • banned steelband competition for next 5 years
    • poor judging contributing factor to violent clashes between steelbands
  • introduced steelband recital (June)
• Boscoe Holder and Troupe  including steelpan tours UK - 1950

• Arrival of Steelpan in the UK. Taspo 1951
• On July 26 in 1951, TASPO performed at the Festival of Britain, introducing steelpan to Europe - See more
• Trinidad All Steel Percussion Orchestra (TASPO) established
  • Lieutenant Griffith of St. Lucia Police Band is musical director
  • formed specifically for Festival of Britain
  • toured France and United Kingdom for 3 months
  • 11 best players from the country, 13 reserves
    • Orman “Patsy” Haynes / Casablanca
    • “Boots” Davidson / City Syncopators
    • Sterling Betancourt / Crossfire
    • A. De Labastide / Chicago
    • Dudley Smith / Rising Sun
    • Winston “Spree” Simon / Tokyo
    • Granville Sealey / Tripoli
    • Clive Belgrave / Southern Symphony
    • Ellie Mannette / Invaders
    • Anthony Williams / Sun Valley
    • Sonny Roache
    • Theo Stephen / Free French
  • Operation Britain - to raise $15,000 for TASPO
  • July 6, TASPO departs on San Mateo, Sonny Roache ill, left behind in Martinique
  • September, Winston Spree gets contract to teach pan music at University of Nigeria & Ghana
• Developments
• 3 drum bass boom
• 2 drum cello boom
• establish complete chromatic range of notes from ping pong to bass

• Hazel Henley forms all female steelband known as Girl Pat. one of reportedly only two all-women steel orchestras in the 1950s in Trinidad and Tobago -- click to read more on Girl Pat
• Antigua's first all female steelband formed - “The Pastel Intruders” was formed. The group of young, exciting and energetic ladies, exhibiting skills on pan on par with their male counterparts, won the hearts of Antiguans/Barbudans and others when they played at their first official function in 1953 to celebrate the coronation of Queen Elizabeth II. read more
• Trinidad Music Association accept steelband men after initial rejection, Music Festivals no longer off limits
• Bands from south form: Southern Steelbands Association, 25 members
• Rising Sun Steel Orchestra wins Antigua's Panorama with C'est Si Bon
• Ellie Mannette creates the Double Second

• Lennox “Boogsie” Sharpe -  He was born 28 October 1953, Benares Street, St James, Trinidad. The nick-name Boogsie was given to him by his mother
• 1953 was referred to as the year of Steel band music; over twenty bands (nineteen male and one female) were formed. The Texans, winner of the 1953 Steel Band Festival, Tripoli, first runner-up, and Quo Vadis, the twenty-six piece, (the largest in Guiana during that period), and the Crusaders were among the most popular bands of that period. -- Lloyd Kandasammy
• Hells Gate wins Antigua Panorama
• Anthony Williams creates the “SPIDER-WEB” ping pong, referred to as the “fourths and fifths” pan..

 

Anthony Williams (right) introduced the “spider web” lead Pan. The instrument shown off here by Williams and Herman “Rock” Johnson was an amended version which Johnson claims to have crafted and whose expanded range supposedly was the key to the Williams-led North Stars band winning Trinidad’s 1962 Music Festival with their memorable rendition of the Strauss Waltz, Voices of Spring. - See more

• Arden Williams, a student from Trinidad carried his ping pong with him when he attended the University of the West Indies, Mona campus (then the University College of the West Indies). Soon after, he and other Trinidadian students and one Jamaican started the first-ever steelband on Jamaican soil.

• In 1955, costumed steel band tramps accentuated the Coronation Day celebrations. According to one report, shortly after midday, the best- dressed steel band - the Quo Vadis marched as units of the Royal Navy and with a following of over one thousand took to the streets of Georgetown. Striped 'Admirals' in navy blue led the bandsmen who were clad in white. The Chicago Steel Band resplendent with the Union Jack stopped at Government house in Carmichael Street and played a perfect rendition of 'Rule Britannica' and 'God save the Queen' for Lady Savage," the wife of Governor Alfred Savage. At Camp Street the Texans and Tripoli, each with a following of over two thousand, clashed. However, unlike in previous years, they did not stop, but continued to play their music with the hope of attracting supporters from the other side. -- Lloyd Kandasammy
• 
  Lord Woodbine (seated at left): The forgotten sixth Beatle
  Harold Adolphus Philips (15 January 1929 – 5 July 2000), known as Lord Woodbine, was a Trinidadian calypsonian and music promoter. He is regarded by some as the musical mentor of The Beatles, and has been called the "sixth Beatle".  He played a tenor pan as part of the first professional steel band in England, the All Caribbean Steel Band, which was formed by Gerry Gobin in 1955, and played regularly at the Joker's Club and then the Jacaranda Club in Liverpool, owned by Allan Williams. Philips later played with the All Caribbean Steel Band in their television appearance on the Opportunity Knocks in July 1965.  read more on Lord Woodbine
  
• Montreal, Canada --
Reply by Lawford Dupres on April 22, 2019 at 7:01pm
Delete

The first steelband from Trinidad to reach Montreal was Dixie Stars in 1955 as the Esso Steel band, sponsored by Imperial Oil. From there they made a tour across Canada, ending up in Vancouver. They(not all) returned by boat. On reaching Aruba, some took a plane back to Trinidad. Others , including my brother, stayed on board the ship until it reached England. Except for a small side from the band that Rudy Commissiong had taken to Bermuda the year before, that was the end of the band.  See more

• George Goddard elected President of Steelband Association (June)
  • 12 member band
  • Constitution drawn up

• Hells Gate wins Antigua Panorama with My Mother's Eyes  - Sydney Prince arranger
• In 1958, on the occasion of the visit of Her Royal Highness Princess Margaret, the Government of British Guiana assisted the Steel Band Association with a grant of $1,200 for the purchase of costumes for a special tramp. - Lloyd Kandasammy

• “Desperadoes” & “San Juan All Stars” clash
• Hells Gate wins Antigua Panorama with Jesu Joy of Man's Desiring - Sydney Prince arranger
• Emmanuel Riley improvisations in the Invaders’ recordings “Liebestraume” and “Melody in F” set a standard for pan soloists - click to listen to performance
• Kenrick Philmore -  Ken "Professor" Philmore was born 1959, Trinidad.

• Hells Gate wins Antigua Panorama
• Bertie Marshall & Anthony Williams together:
  • Introduced harmonic tuning
  • Extended range of orchestra
  • Placed bass pans on wheels.  Anthony Williams placed the entire band on wheels.
• The 1960 Guyana Festival, October, 1960 organized by the Jaycees marked the first attempt, to bring Steelband Mas' to a carnival-like celebration. This was the dream of Charlie Hubbard, GM of the Mariner's club, and all those unheralded heroes, who promoted steel band and mas' in the fifties. Every mother's son turned out for the weekend festival at the BGCC grounds, Annexe. Vivian Lee's Vaudeville Variety Show with dancers in colourful exotic costumes popped out of a huge birthday cake to mark the occasion. The Pantomime presentation of the Royal Bank of Canada's Grimm's Fairy Tales and Nursery Rhymes won Costume Band of the year, with Pemya's Marabuntas King Richard runner up. The results, unacceptable to the pan beaters, resulted in minor unrest the same night, and thereafter, all decisions in this fiercely competitive event would be issued two days later in the press, as is done in Trinidad.
•  Frank Rollock starts Brixton Carnival – UK 1960

• Present Grand Stand established in Savannah -- Trinidad
• Dixieland Steelband established - UK 1961

• Steelbands Association renamed National Association of T&T Steelbandmen (NATTS)
• St. Vincent & the Grenadines holds its first Panorama competition - Police Steel Orchestra wins - see more

• Carnival Development Committee (CDC) changes name of competition


• First prize raised from TT $350 to TT $1,000

* Trinidad & Tobago’s first ever “Steelband’s Panorama” held at Queen’s Park Savannah, Friday February 22^nd

• North Stars win this first Trinidad & Tobago Panorama with the tune Dan is The Man.  The arranger is Anthony Williams.
• Participants include: North Stars, Sundowners, Desperadoes, Modern Sunland, Invaders, City Symphony, Casablanca, Starlift, San Juan All Stars, City Syncopators, Crossfire, Dixie Harps, Merrytones, Metronomes, Merry Stars, Nocturne, Prodigal Philharmonics, Renegades, Sputniks, Steel Stylers, Tropical Harmony, Wonderland (Port of Spain), Wonderland (Chaguanas)
• The prize monies  were; $1,000, $500 and $250 respectively for the first three spots.
• The 10 finalist were DESPERADOES, CASABLANCA, CITY SYMPHONY, INVADERS, NORTH STARS, STARLIFT, SUNDOWNERS, SUNLAND, WONDERLAND, SAN JUAN ALL STARS
• Calypsonians try to gain advantage in Carnival Road March competition, accused of giving scores to steelbands
• April 11
  • Government Aid for establishment of National Steelband
  • Ellie Mannette chosen as tuner
  • Grant not to exceed $1,500 for tuning
• Steelband Association establishes National Steelband and organize a steelband Festival; Crossfire wins Festival
• August
  • Wolfgang Krause of Germany films Ellie Mannette tuning, slips out of country on yacht, violates agreement with Steelband Association & Trinidad & Tobago government
  • Moral Re-Armament (MRA) organization invites National Steelband to USA
• Police Steel Orchestra wins St. Vincent & the Grenadines Panorama for 2nd consecutive time - see more
• The formation of the first National Steel Band in Guyana in 1963. This band performed at various functions for the workers of Guyana, and (its services were) paid (for) by the state.
• Harmonites Steel Orchestra formed in Trinidad. The band Solo Harmonites has its genesis in 1963 when a group of teenagers from Egypt village, Second Caledonia, Barataria, Trinidad came together to form a steel band, which was originally known as Wonderland. Under the leadership of one Mr. Justin "Baba" Fredericks, the band endured a name change to “Harmonites” when it was discovered that there was another steel band by the name of Wonderland. Mr. Fredericks migrated shortly afterwards and the mantle of leadership fell to Mr. Winston “Skull” Fleming, captain and Mr. Vincent “Hueloy” Lila Yip Young as Manager. click for more

• Hells Gate wins Antigua Panorama
• Police Steel Orchestra wins St. Vincent & the Grenadines Panorama for 3rd consecutive time
• North Stars win Trinidad & Tobago Panorama with the tune Mama Dis is Mas
• North Stars expelled from Association by general membership
• Rudolph Charles elected leader of Desperadoes, and later he will introduce:
  • chromed pans
  • nine bass
  • quadraphonic pan
  • triple tenor
  • rocket bass
  • aluminum canopies
     
• Players chosen for National Steelband performance in USA:
  • Emmanuel Riley (Invaders), Errol Zephrine (Starlift), David Samuel (Prodigals), Rudolph Johnson (Fascinators), Norbert Augustine (Wonderland Symphony), Lennox Glean (Wonderland), Kelvin Hart (City Syncopators), Herman Collins (Sun Valley), Osmond Charles (Savoys), Hugh Borde (Tripoli), Steve Regis (Sun Downers), Morrison Romeo (Starlift - Tobago), Lennox "Bobby" Mohammed (Cavaliers), Glenford Sobers (Crosswinds), Herbert Benjamin (Casbah - Tobago), Elton John (City Symphony), Kenneth Bennett (San Juan All Stars), Clifford Alexis (Stereophonics), Vincent Hernandez (Satisfiers), Desmond Hernandez (Melodiscs), Randolph St Louis (Renegades), Edgar Pouchet (Silver Stars)
    National Steelband performs in Michigan, West Virginia, Santa Fe, New Mexico - USA
  
   
  
  Trinidad and Tobago Steel Band returns from 1964 tour -----
  • listen to an exclusive interview about the 1964 tour with Clifford Alexsis
• The Silvertones Steel Orchestra was selected to play for Queen Elizabeth II, who was visiting Guyana
• Aruba - The first Carnival steel band competition ever was organized in 1964. Eight steel bands competed in a legendary competition. The Merrymakers, the Devils, the Curacao Heroes, the Long Gun Boys, the Paradera Steelband, The Silver Stars, The Allstars, and the Aruba Invaders were all talented groups which produced the most amazing sounds. Finally the Aruba Invaders won with their variant of the theme from exodus, making them the first Aruban steel band competition win | see more |
• Sterling Betancourt formed Nostalgia –  ‘Pan-round-the-neck’ in the United Kingdom
• Russell Henderson Steelband first to play at the now Notting Hill Carnival April 1964

•   Cavaliers win Panorama with the tune Melody Mas - Bobby Mohammed (arranger)
• Easter Sunday - Desperadoes become the first steelband to play in church - see more
• Musicians (20 pan players) chosen for National Steelband to participate in the Commonwealth Arts Festival in the UK.  Players:
  • Roderick Toussaint (City Kids); Gordon Barrow (Scherzando); Steve Regis (West Stars); Hugh Borde (Tripoli); Glenford Sobers (Cross Winds); Cabot Paul (Trinidad Symphony); Dean Kirton (Kintups); Pedro Pereira (Blue Diamonds); Edward Towine (Desperadoes); Clunis Clarke (Casbah); Lennox Mohammed (Cavaliers); Herman Johnson (Sunjets); David Edwards (Gale Stars); Herman Collins (Sun Valley); Rudolph St. Louis (Renegades); Sylvester Garcia (Tropical Harmony); Emmanuel Riley (Invaders); Betram Kellman (Southern Marines); Morrison Romeo (Starlift - Tobago); and David La Barrie (Starlets)
     
• National Steelband players participate in the Commonwealth Arts Festival (September 10–October 14)
• The Daily Mirror in the UK proclaims: “The steel orchestra was the greatest thing that ever happened to music in recent years.  This was the view of the music experts in England!” **
• ESSO Engro Steel Orchestra wins St. Vincent Panorama

• Desperadoes win Panorama with the tune Obeah Wedding Beverly Griffith (arranger) - 50,000 in attendance
• Desperadoes go to Africa (Senegal
• ESSO Engro Steel Orchestra wins St. Vincent Panorama

• 
  Trinidad and Tobago National Steelband performs at Expo '67 in Montreal, Canada
  ("A troupe of dancers and the 22 members of the’ National Steelband left for Expo ‘67 on August 11, George Goddard  was manager of the band. The 22 panmen were: - [ pictured bottom row left to right]  David Edwards of Gale Stars, Ëmlvn Harewood of Starland, Steve Regis of West Stars, Glenford Sobers of Crosswinds, Roderick Toussaint of City Kids, Clunls Clarke of Casbah Tobago), [pictured middle row left to right] Lennox Mohammed of Cavaliers, Michael Alleyne of Scarlet Symphony, Carlyle Jordan of Dixie Harps,  Elton John of City Symphony,  Gordon Barrow of Scherzando, Randolph St. Louis of Renegades, Bertram Kellman of Southern Marines, [pictured top row left to right]  Herman Collins of Sun Valley,  Sylvester Nicholas of Tropical Harmony,  David La Barrie of Sputniks, Rafael Passey of Fonclaire,  Morris Romeo of Starlift (Tobago), [not pictured] Pedro Alexander Pereira of Blue Diamonds,   Cabot Paul of Trinidad Symphony, Dean Kirton of Kintups, and Emmanuel Riley of Invaders" - George "Sonny" Goddard)
• Tripoli Steelband Under the leadership of Hugh Borde, Tripoli performed at the 1967 World's Fair in Montreal, Canada, following which they were booked for an extensive concert tour and television appearances with the famous American pianist Liberace.
• Hettie J. Mejias- deGannes (maiden name is Mejias) is the Panorama arranger for  Silhouettes in Cocoyea Village 1967 - the tune of choice is "Don't Come Back Again" by Lord Kitchener
• Hells Gate win Antigua Panorama
• ESSO Engro Steel Orchestra wins St. Vincent Panorama
•   Cavaliers win Trinidad & Tobago Panorama with the tune Sixty-seven
• Anthony Williams suggests local tunes to be used with test pieces

• Desperadoes tour Zambia

"I am Aldwin Albino who organized the band at the school. Martin is my younger brother. I was posted to Calvary R.C. in August,1965 after graduating from Government Training College. This was the first time that the school year in Trinidad had changed from January to July. Mr.Cyrille was my headteacher, and with his permission as well as the Rosary R.C. Church parish priest I received the green light to approach President George Goddard to obtain pans from Angostura Starlift for the project. The year was 1967, and I was also at that time the music director on Holly Betaudier's program Scouting for Talent, and as fate would have it Angostura also sponsored Scouting for Talent. Thanks again for your helpful research."   --  Aldwin Albino. read more - from WST Forum...
10-19-2013

• Former Prime Minister of Trinidad and Tobago & panist Patrick Manning (second from left) performing with "Playboys" in 1968 at UWI Mona Jamaica. - photo and caption info posted by Patrick Manning.
• Harmonites win Trinidad & Tobago Panorama with the tune Wrecker
• Harmonites /Brute Force win Antigua Panorama with Miss Tourist /La Cascade respectively
• ESSO Engro Steel Orchestra wins St. Vincent Panorama
• In 1968, a competition was organized by the National History and Arts Council to showcase the talent of Steel bands in Guyana. Two sets of judges were used for the preliminaries and the finals. Competitors were required to play the National Anthem, a classical selection and a test-piece of the Guyanese folk song 'Way down Demerara' at the Queen Elizabeth National Park.
  
  Two sets of judges were used for the preliminaries and the finals. Competitors were required to play the National Anthem, a classical selection and a test-piece of the Guyanese folk song 'Way down Demerara' at the Queen Elizabeth National Park. - Lloyd Kandasammy
  
• Music Festival At this time the annual Music Festival at Queen's College provided the impetus for the advancement of Pan and enabled the Steelband to hold their place in local entertainment against the increasingly popular string bands such as Rhymthaires - Combo Seven - Bumble and the Saints, and the Young Ones. The Beatles, Cliff Richards and the Ventures were big hits abroad. Pan was introduced in the Schools Broadcast Programme initiated by Derek Jeffrey. The Kaietukians, Silvertones, Pelicans and Texacans were the leading Steel bands.  - Godfrey Chin
• Guyana - The National Music Festival and the National Steelband Competition – the winning band for both events was the formidable Demtoco Silvertones.
• Aruba Invaders win 1968 Steelband competition -- Na anja 1968 Invaders a gana e Steelband Contest na Lago Sport Park

• Harmonites win Antigua Panorama with "Air On G String" - Rupert 'Teela' Parker arranger
• Panasonic wins Panorama in Grenada
• Coca Cola Harmonites wins St. Vincent Panorama
• Starlift win Trinidad & Tobago (T&T) Panorama with the tune The Bull
• CDC (Carnival Development Committee) is the sole sponsor of Trinidad &Tobago
• Panorama Police Superintendent Anthony Prospect suggests steel orchestras use ‘Concert Pitch’ when tuning, “A” above middle “G”, 440Hz, (universally accepted pitch)
• North Stars Steel Orchestra holds recital with Winifred Atwell at Queen’s Hall
• Merle Albino-de Coteau becomes arranger and musical director for Chase Manhattan Savoy 
• Guyana - The National Music Festival and the National Steelband Competition – again the winning band for both events was the formidable Demtoco Silvertones.
• Ebony Steelband formed 1969 - UK

• Desperadoes win Trinidad & Tobago Panorama with the tune Margie
• Angel Harps wins Panorama in Grenada
• Desperadoes leader, Rudolph Charles suggests to Trinidad &Tobago prime minister Eric Williams, to set up co-operative to manufacture steelband instruments
• Prime Minister meets with steelband leaders
• Co-operative agreement between Prime Minister & 17 steelbands
• NATTS’ president George Goddard and PNM (People’s National Movement - the then-ruling political party in Trinidad & Tobago) clash
• Steelband & Black Power Movement
  • State of Emergency in Trinidad & Tobago declared
  • Steelband Music Festival cancelled
• Rising Sun wins Antigua & Barbuda Panorama - Jesu Joy of Man's Desiring - Dr. Charles Roberts  arranger
• Texaco Starlift Steel Orchestra wins St. Vincent Panorama

• Harmonites win Antigua Panorama with "Love Story"
• Harmonites and Starlift Steel Orchestras both tie for the title and win Trinidad & Tobago Panorama; Harmonites with the tune Play Mas, and Starlift with Queen of the Bands
• Fascinators wins Panorama in Grenada
• Texaco Starlift Steel Orchestra wins St. Vincent Panorama
• George Goddard resigns as president of NATTS - (National Association of Trinidad and Tobago Steelbandsmen)
• NATTS changes name to “Pan Trinbago”
• In 1971, two major events the National Steel Band Festival 31 July - 2 August and the reintroduction of the Steel Band Tramp, both organised by the National History and Arts Council and the Steel Band Association, reinvigorated new life and interest in this aspect of Guyana's culture. Prime Minister Forbes Burnham, in addressing the Steel Band Association at Critchlow Labour College, declared that "every public corporation in which the government has a majority shareholding will sponsor a steel band."
• Rocket Pan invented by Rudolph Charles of Desperadoes Steel Orchestra

• Merle Albino-de Coteau arranges for Chase Manhattan Savoy  - first woman to arrange a Panorama piece
  
• Harmonites win Trinidad & Tobago Panorama with the tune St. Thomas Girl
• Ray Holman, first arranger to compete in Trinidad & Tobago’s Panorama with his own composition - Pan On the Move - (Starlift)
• Tropicans win New York’s First ever Panorama held behind the Brooklyn Museum, Brooklyn
• Young Island Harps wins St. Vincent Panorama
• In 1972, Steel Band Week from 1-7 April was staged by the Guyana National Steel Band Music Association to promote Steel Band music in Guyana.
• Desperadoes Steel Orchestra Queen Elizabeth at the Royal Albert Hall in London

The CARIRI Project
In 1972, the first scientific study of the characteristics of pan was initiated at the University of the West Indies (UWI) at St. Augustine, Trinidad, by Ron Dennis, a lecturer in the Engineering Department. Dennis, who was from England, analyzed the behavior of pan notes in the laboratory and theorized that pans could be pressed (made concave) by the hydroform method. Initially, a small die was manufactured and tested on mini-pans, with research help from engineering student Clement Imbert. With funding from the Caribbean Industrial Research Institute (CARIRI ), construction of a larger press designed by Ron Dennis began at the UWI Engineering Department in 1974. Upon his graduation from UWI, Clement Imbert joined the CARIRI project team which included Richard McDavid as the Project Manager. The press was completed in 1975 and, after testing, was put into operation with the help of Caroni Limited who made their machine shop available for the project. Pans were pressed from 1975 to 1976 and were tuned by Bertie Marshall and Anthony Williams who reported their findings to the project team. The biggest problem observed by the tuners was the material distribution, i.e., the lack of a gradual reduction in thickness from the circumference to the center of the pressed surface. Improvements were made and, with the support of arranger Ray Holman, the first complete set of pans were used in the 1976 Panorama competition. Pressing ceased in mid-1977 when funding from the Government of Trinidad & Tobago was halted... Ron Emrit

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The press did not disappear – the press was in Europe at the Saab plant; there never was a local one. This was in the early 80’s/late 70’s as well and the project was conducted at CARIRI and included Richard McDavid (on this project) as well as Keith Maynard and Clement Imbert - all of whom have been involved in this project in one way or the other. We actually have two of the pressed samples (one mysteriously turned up after missing for all those years). That project included the likes of Tony Williams and Bertie Marshall. Funding was stopped for reasons I have not been able to determine – this represents 30 years of lost opportunity... Dr, Brian Copland

• Trinidad All Stars win Trinidad & Tobago Panorama with the tune Rain-O-Rama
• Angel Harps wins Panorama in Grenada
• New York Panorama held at Medgar Evers College
• Pan Masters win New York Panorama - arranger Dave LaBarrie
• Supa Start wins Antigua Panorama with Carnival 73
• Sherwin Williams Supertones win St. Vincent Panorama
• Metronomes Steelband established  - UK
• In 1973 at Northern Illinois University, G. Allan O’Connor founded the first actively performing steel band at an American university. The original instruments were purchased in Aruba

• Harmonites win Trinidad & Tobago Panorama with the tune Jericoh
• New York Panorama competition is ‘rained out’
• Harmonites win Antigua Panorama with Tourist Take Over Fighting - Paul Campbell
• C.U.A Starlift win St. Vincent Panorama
• 1970's Joseph "Franklin" Gerald first person to play nine-bass invented by Rudolph Charles of Desperadoes Steel Orchestra

• Halycon wins Antigua Panorama
• Hatters win Trinidad & Tobago Panorama with the tune Tribute to Spree Simon
• City Symphony wins Panorama in Grenada
• Brooklynaires win New York Panorama, which returns to the ‘behind the Brooklyn Museum’ location
• C.U.A Starlift win St. Vincent Panorama
• Chronicle Atlantic Steel Orchestra wins Guyana's National Steelband Competition
• Gerald Forsyth OBE – Establishes Steelpan in the UK education curriculum - 1975
• Pan Teachers Association  - founded in UK
• Twelve Bass invented by Rudolph Charles of Desperadoes Steel Orchestra
• Calliope’s Children Steel Orchestra tours Romania see more

• $15,000 awarded to Trinidad & Tobago Panorama Winner
• Desperadoes win Trinidad & Tobago Panorama with the tune Pan In Harmony
• City Symphony wins Panorama in Grenada
• Exhibits wins New York Panorama
• Hells Gate wins Antigua Panorama
• Heineken Abbucalypse Steel Orchestra win St. Vincent Panorama
• Chronicle Atlantic Steel Orchestra wins Guyana's National Steelband Competition
• Guyana's Chronicle Atlantic Steel Orchestra performs overseas in Cuba
• Frank Rollock establishes – Ilea Schools Steel Band

• Ebonites wins Antigua Panorama
• Desperadoes win Trinidad & Tobago Panorama with the tune Crawford
• All Stars wins Panorama in Grenada
• Moods Pan Groove wins New York Panorama
• C.U.A Starlift win St. Vincent Panorama
• Chronicle Atlantic Steel Orchestra wins Guyana's National Steelband Competition
• Calliope’s Children Steel Orchestra tours Poland and Russia see more

• USD $500 appearance fee instituted for the preliminaries of New York Panorama
• Satisfiers win New York Panorama
• Paddington Youth wins Panorama in the United Kingdom
• Halcyon wins Antigua Panorama
• City Symphony wins Panorama in Grenada
• Chronicle Atlantic Steel Orchestra wins Guyana's National Steelband Competition
• South Steelband Movement forms in Trinidad; they stage their own Panorama in Skinner Park, San Fernando, south Trinidad
• Starlift wins Trinidad & Tobago Panorama with the tune Du Du Yemi
• J & B Starlift wins St. Vincent panorama
• Aruba features 18 steelbands in their steel band competition.
• Quadraphonic Pans invented by Rudolph Charles
• Triple Second invented by Rudolph Charles

Starlift on stage performing Dudu Yemi

• DJ’s (disc jockeys) impact carnival scene both in USA and Trinidad - in parties and ‘on the road’
• Harmonites Steel Orchestra performs at part of the 1979 Superbowl half time show at the Miami Orange Bowl. The halftime show was "Carnival: A Salute to the Caribbean" with various Caribbean bands.
• Halcyon wins Panorama in Antigua
• Metronomes win Panorama in the United Kingdom
• No Panorama in Trinidad & Tobago.  Panmen boycott Panorama for more money
• No Panorama competition in St. Vincent
• No Panorama in New York
  • Cost of preparing steelbands for New York Panorama = $15,000 - $20,0000
  • Cost of new band $60,00Cost of new band $60,00Cost of new band $60,00

  

• Trinidad All Stars win Trinidad & Tobago Panorama with the tune Woman On The Bass
• London All Stars win UK Panorama
• Trinidad & Tobago bands get appearance fee of TT $5,000.00 for Panorama
• Belmont South Stars win Panorama in Grenada
• Bidco Invaders wins Guyana's National Steelband Competition
• No New York Panorama
• No Panorama competition in St. Vincent
• Chronicle Atlantic Steel Orchestra travels to Moscow, political centre of what was then the Cold War behemoth, the Union of Soviet Socialist Republics, on a four-week goodwill tour. Russian audiences were delighted to hear not only Guyanese steelpan compositions, but also the band’s rendering of classical pieces such as Khachaturyan’s Sabre Dance and Tchaikovsky’s Swan Lake. Guyanese singer, Dawn Shultz was also there, performing the James Bond film theme song, From Russia With Love. -- Geoffrey Chin

• Trinidad All Stars win Trinidad & Tobago Panorama with the tune Unknown Band
• Metronomes and Mangrove both tie for the title and win the UK Panorama
• Sonatas wins New York Panorama
• 20th Century Steel Orchestra win St. Vincent Panorama
• Gemonites wins Antigua's Panorama
• Chronicle Atlantic Steel Orchestra wins Guyana's National Steelband Competition
• Travelling Ambassadors - From Russia, Casso like Marco Polo set out around the world in eighty days. First to the New London Theatre England where Clive Lloyd was being honoured with the CCH-Guyana's highest national honour. In 1981, they toured the United States, playing at the UN General Assembly, Washington, DC, then to Las Vegas, Chicago, and Ottawa, for a guest appearance at the Canadian House of Parliament. The next year, 1982, they were the featured artistes at the British Honduras Independence Celebrations, and in 1983, went back to Canada for the 150th Anniversary of Canada's Redeau Canal. -- Geoffrey Chin
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• Trinidad & Tobago first Prime Minister Eric Williams - passes away - : March 29, 1981, Port of Spain, Trinidad and Tobago

• Renegades win Trinidad & Tobago Panorama with the tune Pan Explosion
• Metronomes win the UK Panorama
• Sonatas and Metro both tie for the title and win New York Panorama
• City Symphony wins Panorama in Grenada
• No Panorama competition in St. Vincent
• Chronicle Atlantic Steel Orchestra of Guyana featured artistes at the British Honduras Independence Celebrations
About the leader and founder of Chronicle Atlantic Steel Orchestra: The world's greatest orchestras have often been identified by their leader who made it all possible. Glenn Miller - Arthur Fiedler - Byron Lee - Tom Charles to name a few- and I must add, Rudy Bishop to the list of great band leaders who made it possible. An indefatigable hustler, entrepreneur, missionary, diplomat, conductor, a veritable Steelband Moses.  -- Geoffrey Chin

• Desperadoes win Trinidad & Tobago Panorama with the tune Rebecca
• Ebony wins the UK Panorama
• City Symphony wins Panorama in Grenada
• No Panorama competition in St. Vincent
• Sonatas win New York Panorama
  • Sonatas becomes the first orchestra to achieve the New York Panorama hat trick, with wins from 1981–1983

• Renegades win Trinidad & Tobago Panorama with the tune Sweet Pan
• Metronomes win the UK Panorama
• Angel Harps win Grenada Panorama
• No Panorama competition in St. Vincent
• Golden Stars “win” New York Panorama; they were the only band to compete at the grounds behind the Brooklyn Museum.  The other New York orchestras staged an alternate Panorama at Boys and Girls High School on Rutland Road, Brooklyn - but were shut down by the NYPD (New York Police Department), before all the bands had performed.

•  Rudolph Charles, famed leader of the legendary Desperadoes Steel Orchestra - passes away
• Dalton Narine writes eulogy - The Baddest Desperado
•  Rudolph Charles -  Steelband Leader Still Exceptional

Rudolph Charles famed leader of Desperadoes

• 
  The funeral of Desperadoes' Rudolph Charles -
  photo courtesy of David Rudder

• Renegades and Desperadoes both tie to win the Trinidad & Tobago Panorama - playing the same tune Pan Night and Day
• Angel Harps win Grenada Panorama
• Harmonites win Antigua Panorama
• London All Stars win the UK Panorama
• Sonatas win New York Panorama
• St. Vincent Panorama - Starlift Steel Orchestra win
• Les Slater and Dalton Narine launch the groundbreaking Pan Magazine
• In 1985 Trinidadian Clifford Alexis was hired as an on-staff builder, tuner, arranger, and co-director

• Trinidad All Stars win the Trinidad & Tobago Panorama, playing the tune The Hammer
• City New Tones win Grenada Panorama
• Halcyon wins Antigua Panorama
• Mangrove wins the UK Panorama
• No New York Panorama; complete boycott by steel orchestras
• No Panorama competition in St. Vincent
• Pan Trinbago Inc is a cultural organization which was incorporated by Act of Parliament, 5 of 1986. It formerly operated and was registered as a Union representing the interest of steelpan players. It was formed in 1971 but had been organized since 1950. Pan Trinbago Inc is host and promoter of the Annual National Steelband Panorama.

• Phase II Pan Groove wins the Trinidad & Tobago Panorama playing the tune This Feelin’ Nice
• Angel Harps win Grenada Panorama
• Halcyon win Antigua Panorama
• No Panorama competition in St. Vincent
• Phase One wins the UK Panorama
• Metro Steel Orchestra wins New York Panorama
• Desperadoes’ Great New York Triumph...  Desperadoes performs at New York’s Carnegie Hall with Pat Bishop as conductor - Brooklyn Academy of Music - The Apollo and the Philadelphia Academy of Music.
• Master pan arranger and composer Len Boogsie Sharpe awarded Hummingbird Silver Medal.

• Renegades win the Trinidad & Tobago Panorama playing the tune Somebody
• No Panorama in Antigua; complete boycott by the steel orchestras
• New Dimension wins Grenada Panorama
• St. Vincent Panorama - Starlift Steel Orchestra win
• London All Stars wins the UK Panorama
• Sonatas win New York Panorama
• Chronicle Atlantic Steel Orchestra wins Guyana's National Steelband Competition
• Savannah Management Committee established by Minister Lincoln Myers. Recommend against Carnival in the Savannah  -- Trinidad

• Renegades wins the Trinidad & Tobago Panorama playing the tune Iron Man
• Hells Gate win Antigua Panorama
• Angel Harps win Grenada Panorama
• St. Vincent Panorama - Starlift Steel Orchestra win
• Mangrove wins the UK Panorama
• Metro Steel Orchestra wins New York Panorama

• Desperadoes wins the Trinidad & Tobago Panorama playing the tune Musical Volcano
• Hells Gate wins Antigua Panorama
• Angel Harps win Grenada Panorama
• Ebony wins the UK Panorama
• Metro Steel Orchestra wins New York Panorama
• No Panorama competition in St. Vincent

• Exodus wins the Trinidad & Tobago Panorama playing the tune Savannah Party
• Halcyon wins Antigua Panorama
• New Dimension wins Grenada Panorama
• St. Vincent Panorama - Starlift Steel Orchestra win
• Ebony wins the UK Panorama
• Prime Minister Patrick Manning declares the Steelpan the National Instrument of Trinidad & Tobago on August 13.
• Belmont Fifth Dimensions of upper St. Francois Valley Road was evicted from panyard -- "We both went and stood in the centre of the pans. The Police ordered us to move or they would shoot and started crackiung their guns. I thought Malick and myself were dead." read more
• Metro Steel Orchestra wins New York Panorama
• Chantal Esdelle co-winner of the soloist championship with Liam Teague at the 1992 National Steelband Music is the the first female and youngest panist to win the Pan is Beautiful pan festival solo competition.
• Chaconia Gold Medal, given for “Outstanding Service to the Country” (1992)

• Renegades win the Trinidad & Tobago Panorama playing the tune Mystery Band
• Halcyon wins Antigua Panorama
• St. Vincent Panorama - Bishop Steel Orchestra win
• Angel Harps wins Grenada Panorama
• Ebony wins the UK Panorama
• Despers USA wins New York Panorama

• Desperadoes win the Trinidad & Tobago Panorama playing the tune Fire Coming Down
• Halcyon wins Antigua Panorama
• Commancheros win Grenada Panorama
• Ebony wins the UK Panorama
• St. Vincent Panorama - Potential Steel Orchestra win
• Despers USA win New York Panorama
• The first concerto ever for steelpan and orchestra, is written by  composer Jan Bach

• Trinidad and Tobago government, in May, granted patent for G-Pan
• United States Steelband Association elects new board of directors - New York, USA - A new beginning, era and focus were ushered into the steelband movement as a new administration took the helm of the North American-based steelband music organization, United States Steelband Association (USSA)
• NAS (National Association of Steelbands) second steelband association forms in New York
• Trinidad & Tobago National Panorama 2010 - Silver Stars win playing the tune Battle Zone
• Pan in The 21st Century 2010 - Sforzata wins
• St. Vincent & Grenadines Panorama 2010 - Sion Hill Euphonium Steel Orchestra wins
• Montreal 2010 International Panorama - Salah’s Steelpan Academy wins
• Grenada National Panorama 2010 - cancelled
• St. Lucia National Panorama 2010 - cancelled
• Antigua & Barbuda Panorama 2010 - Halcyon wins
• UK Junior Panorama   2010- CSI Steelband Trust wins
• UK Panorama 2010 - Ebony wins
• Toronto Panorama 2010 - Salah’s Steelpan Academy wins
New York Panorama 2010 - Sonatas Steel Orchestra wins
• July 2010 -- GPan US patent awarded
• St. Lucia - The late musician Augustus 'Pan' Andrew passes. Pan Andrew was the leader of the Big Six orchestra and was a pioneer of steelband music. He was associated with Turks steelband. He played piano with his Big Six orchestra. He was 74.

Click here for more 2010 Headlines

• Trinidad and Tobago government raises first prize in Panorama to TT $2,000,000.00
• Trinidad & Tobago National Panorama 2011 -  Trinidad All Stars wins playing the tune Show Time
• Pan in The 21st Century 2011 - cancelled - read more
• St. Vincent 2011 Junior Pan Fest - Starlift Juniors & Girls High School steel orchestras win in Community-based & School-based categories, respectively
• St. Vincent & Grenadines Panorama 2011 - Sion Hill Euphonium Steel Orchestra wins
  
  Sion Hill Steel Orchestra
• Montreal 2011 International Panorama - Salah's Steelpan Academy wins 2011 Panorama title
• Grenada National Panorama 2011 - Angel  Harps Steel Orchestra wins 2011 Panorama title
• St. Lucia National Panorama 2011 - Babonneau Steel Orchestra wins 2011 Panorama title
• Antigua & Barbuda Panorama 2011 - Hells Gate Wins 2011 Panorama title
• UK Panorama 2011 - Mangrove Steelband Wins 2011 Panorama title
• Toronto Panorama 2011 - Afro Pan wins 2011 Panorama title
• New York Panorama 2011 - ADLIB Steel Orchestra wins 2011 Panorama title
•  

Roy Cape  the recipient of an Honorary Doctorate from The UWI St, Augustine Campus - DLitt

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•   8-20-2011 - Cultural icon and Trinity Cross recipient Pat Bishop passed. She is best known for her work with Desperadoes Steel Orchestra of Trinidad & Tobago. Click for more on Pat Bishop

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• 10-22-2011 - Dr. Geraldine Connor passed.  She wrote, composed, directed and produced the very successful Caribbean musical called Carnival Messiah. She arranged for Ebony in the UK and Invaders Steel Orchestra in Trinidad and Tobago. Click for more on Dr. Geraldine Connor

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• 10-30-2011 - Pan pioneer Rudolph 'Fisheye' Ollivierre passed.  Born on October 28th 1927 to Richard Ollivierre and Matilda Goodridge... Click for more on Rudolph Fisheye Ollivierre

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• 12-18-2011 Ralph MacDonald passed. Ralph’s music is world-renowned; he is the co-composer of such hits as Just The Two Of Us (Bill Withers), Where Is The Love (Roberta Flack & Donny Hathaway) and Calypso Breakdown from the Saturday Night Fever soundtrack - to name but a few. Together with ace steelpan artist Robert Greenidge, Ralph was a visual and dynamic driving percussive force with the iconic Jimmy Buffet band.  Click for more on Ralph MacDonald

click for more 2011 Headlines

• Xalapa Steel Band - Mexico's first steel orchestra is founded in January by Eduardo “Lalo” Tellez - click for more
• Trinidad & Tobago National Panorama 2012 - Trinidad All Stars wins again with the tune Play Yourself

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• St. Vincent & Grenadines Panorama 2012 - Sion Hill Euphonium Steel Orchestra wins
• Montreal 2012 International Panorama - Salah's Steelpan Academy wins 2012 Panorama title
• Grenada National Panorama 2012 - New Dimension Steel Orchestra wins 2012 Panorama title
• St. Lucia National Panorama 2012 - Babonneau Steel Orchestra wins 2012 Panorama title
• Antigua & Barbuda Panorama 2012 - Hells Gate Wins 2012 Panorama title
• Toronto -  Pan Alive Panorama 2012 - Pan Fantasy wins 2012 Panorama title
• UK Panorama 2012 - Reel Steel Steelband Wins 2012 Panorama title
• New York Panorama 2012 - ADLIB Steel Orchestra wins 2012 Panorama title

 New York, USA - The Big Apple again took the lead, by honoring its central steelpan music figures in the development of Pan in New York, as the Trinidad & Tobago Folk Arts Institute hosted a special awards ceremony simply called “A Gala Tribute To New York Steel Band Pioneers” on May 20th 2012 at the Tropical Paradise Ballroom. In addition to paying public homage and drawing attention to these pioneers, the event also documented the sacrifices and accomplishments of these forerunners, on whose shoulders sit one of the greatest and most significant cultural movements and art forms in the history of the United States. click for more

5-2012  New York Steel Band Pioneers Honored

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• 3-24-12 Junior Pouchet, founder of Silver Stars Steel Orchestra passes - click for more -
  
  

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• 10-18-12  Legendary Steelpan innovator, builder and tuner Bertie Marshall has passed. click for more -
  

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• 5-28-12  Arranger Paul Campbell  passes - click for more
  

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click for more 2012 Headlines

• Trinidad & Tobago National Panorama dedicated to  innovator Bertie Marshall
• Trinidad & Tobago National Panorama 2013 - Phase II Pan Groove Wins Championship with tune "More Love"
• St. Vincent & Grenadines Panorama 2013 - Sion Hill Euphonium Steel Orchestra wins
• Montreal 2013 International Panorama - Salah's Steelpan Academy wins 2013 Panorama title
• St. Lucia National Panorama 2013 - PanTime Steel Orchestra wins 2013 Panorama title
• Antigua and Barbuda National Panorama - Hells Gate Steel Orchestra wins 2013 Panorama
• Toronto -  Pan Alive Panorama 2013 - Pan Fantasy wins 2013 Panorama title
• Grenada - New Dimension Wins Grenada's National Panorama 2013 Competition
• UK Panorama 2013 - Reel Steel Steelband Wins 2013 Panorama title
• New York Panorama 2013 - CASYM Wins 2013 Panorama title
• The Codrington Pan Family - Pan Is Beautiful XII - Orchestra Class - 2013 Champions
  Sybil Millington (Dean) St. Vincent and the Grenadines first woman #steelpan player passes - Nov 7th 2013  https://ning.it/1gwh6iF
  

• First Australian Steelband Festival was held in April 2013  
• Circa September 2013 -- A 24” G-Pan styled experimental drum launched with subsequent high demand for the drums for manufacture of basses, in particular, as well as for tenor pans
• October 2013 and June 2013 -- UWI and Pan Trinbago enter into collaboration under MOUs for steelpan R&D and for Pan Trinbago access to facilities to house, at the SIP Macoya facility, equipment for steelpan drum manufacture following donation of drum manufacture equipment from National Petroleum. The facility now produces two lines of drums for steelpan manufacture, one traditional and one G-pan styled.

• Trinidad & Tobago National Panorama 2014 -  Phase II Pan Groove Wins Championship with tune "Jump High" - The prize is reported to be 2 million dollars TT this year
• St. Vincent & Grenadines Panorama 2014 - Sion Hill Euphonium Steel Orchestra wins
• St. Lucia National Panorama 2014 - PanTime Steel Orchestra wins 2014 Panorama title
• Antigua & Barbuda National Panorama - Ebonites  Steel Orchestra wins 2014 Panorama
• Toronto -  Pan Alive Panorama 2014 - Pan Fantasy wins 2014 Panorama title
• Grenada National Panorama 2014 Competition - New Dimension & Commancheros Win
• UK Panorama 2014 - Reel Steel Steelband Wins 2014 Panorama title
• New York Panorama 2014 - D'Radoes Steel Orchestra  wins 2014 Panorama title

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• Champion arranger Edwin Pouchet of Silver Stars passes - 3/22/2014 click for more
• Arranger and recording musician Eddie Quarless  passes - 9/1/2014 - click for more

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• Award winning Artist, director, actor, and choreographer Geoffrey  Holder passes - 10/5/2014  -- click for more

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• Noted Steelband leader Fitz-Gerald "Daddy" Sparks passes - 11/26/14 - click for more

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Invaders Steel Orchestra Celebrates Seventy-Five Years - Trinidad & Tobago

Hell's Gate Steel Orchestra Celebrates Seventy Years - Antigua & Barbuda

Angel Harps Steel Orchestra Celebrates Seventy Years - Grenada

Trinidad All Stars crossing the stage on Carnival Tuesday

• Trinidad All Stars Wins "Band of the Year" honors for the second consecutive year
• Trinidad & Tobago National Panorama 2015 -  Trinidad All Stars wins playing the tune Unforgettable
• 
  The Codrington Pan Family at SXSW
  
  Codrington Pan Family perform at SXSW festival in Austin Texas, USA... The fist steel band ever.
• St. Vincent & Grenadines Panorama 2015 - Starlift Steel Orchestra wins
• St. Lucia National Panorama 2015 - PanTime Steel Orchestra wins 2015 Panorama title
• Antigua & Barbuda National Panorama - Hells Gate  Steel Orchestra wins 2015 Panorama
• Toronto -  Pan Alive Panorama 2015 - Pan Fantasy wins 2015 Panorama title
• Grenada National Panorama 2015 Competition - Angel Harps Win
• UK Panorama 2015 - Ebony Steelband Wins 2015 Panorama title
• International Panorama Competition - Trinidad All Stars Wins
• Second  Australian Steelband Festival was held
• New York Panorama 2015 - D'Radoes Steel Orchestra  wins 2015 Panorama title
•   Mr. David Rudder the recipient of an Honorary Doctorate from The UWI St, Augustine Campus  - DLitt
  
  

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• Russell Henderson MBE Passes - 8-18-2015 -- Obituary

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• Master Tuner Herman Guppy Brown Passes - 12-3-2015 - WST Forum

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•   Raf Robertson - musician, arranger & educator Passes - 12-3-2015 - WST Forum

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• Trinidad & Tobago National Panorama 2016 -  Desperadoes wins playing the tune Different Me
• St. Vincent & Grenadines Panorama 2016 - Sion Hill Euphonium Steel Orchestra wins
  • St. Vincent & Grenadines Junior Panorama Results - click to view results
• St. Lucia Panorama 2016 - Laborie Steel Orchestra wins
• Antigua & Barbuda National Panorama - Halcyon Steel Orchestra wins 2016 Panorama - click to view results
• Toronto -  Pan Alive Panorama 2016 - Pan Fantasy wins 2016 Panorama title - click to view results
• Grenada National Panorama 2016 Competition -  Commancheros wins - click to view results
• UK Panorama 2016 - Ebony Steelband Wins 2016 Panorama title
• New York Panorama 2016 - D'Radoes Steel Orchestra wins 2016 Panorama title
• NYU Steel is featured in the World Premiere production of the New York Theatre Ballet performing to Philip Glass’ Piano Etudes, choreographed by Steven Melendez and Zhong-Jing Fang. Josh Quillen is the arranger. read more
•  

    Mr. Anthony Williams  the recipient of an Honorary Doctorate from The UWI St, Augustine Campus  - DLitt

  
  Jonathan Scales at North Sea Jazz Festival - picture by Sophie Conin
• Jonathan Scales Fourchestra performs at the North Sea Jazz Festival - Jay White (bass); Xavier Breaker (drums); Jonathan Scales (steel drums) 7-8-2016

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  Master champion arranger the legendary Dr. Jit Samaroo passes - 1-7-2016 click for more

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• 'Pal' Joey Lewis passes - 2-8-2016 -- click for more

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• Japanese Panist Asami Nagakiya is murdered - 2-10-2016  -- click for more

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• Former Prime Minister and Panist - Patrick Manning passes - 7-2-2016  -- click for more

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• Guitarist, Panist, vocalist & composer George Victory passes - 7- 19-2016 - click for more

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• Legendary Guitarist Fitzroy Coleman has passed - 7-26-2016 at age 93 -- click for more

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• Panist Rudy Jathniel Thomas  has passed - 11-15-2016 -- click for more

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• Tuner - Panist Rudy Martin Joseph  has passed - 12-8-2016 at age 84 -- click for more

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• Master Tuner - Panist Walace Austin has passed - 12-22-2016  -- click for more

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• Trinidad & Tobago National Panorama 2017 -  Trinidad All Stars wins playing the tune Full Extreme
• St. Vincent & Grenadines Panorama 2017 - Starlift Steel Orchestra wins
• St. Lucia Panorama 2017 - Babonneau Steel Orchestra wins
• Antigua & Barbuda National Panorama - Hells Gate Steel Orchestra wins 2017 Panorama - click to view results
• Toronto -  Pan Alive Panorama 2017 - Pan Fantasy wins 2017 Panorama title - click to view results
• Grenada National Panorama 2017 Competition -  cancelled - click to read full details
• UK Panorama 2017 - Ebony Steelband Wins 2017 Panorama title - click to view results
• New York Panorama 2017 - cancelled - performances not judged - read details
•    Mr. Winsford Devine  the recipient of an Honorary Doctorate from The UWI St, Augustine Campus  - DLitt

Clifford Alexis

Clifford Alexis receives honorary doctorate from Northern Illinois University (NIU) - May 13

• August 5th 2017
  Zahra Lake becomes the first woman arranger in Antigua and Barbuda Panorama history. She arranged for Panache Steel Orchestra.

Trinidad & Tobago - Big 5 – The Pan Concert. Massy Trinidad All Stars, Desperadoes, bp Renegades, Republic Bank Exodus and Phase II Pan Groove in collaboration with HADCO live Trinidad and Tobago -- read review by Dalton Narine on the historic event

Starlift of St. Vincent Celebrates Fifty Years

Joylanders of Trinidad & Tobago Celebrates Fifty-Six Years

Harmonites International Steel Orchestra
Celebrates Fifty Years - Antigua & Barbuda

Legendary Master Tuner, Innovator -  James "Bassman" Jackman passes - 2-15-2017  -- click for more

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Earl M King - Panist and president of J'Ouvert City -   passes - 3-22-2017  -- click for more

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Gerald Forsyth OBE, passed away on Friday 3rd November 2017 -  click for more

• Trinidad & Tobago National Panorama 2018 -  Renegades wins playing the tune Year for Love
• St. Vincent & Grenadines Panorama 2018 - Sion Hill Euphonium Steel Orchestra
• St. Lucia Panorama 2018 - Babonneau Steel Orchestra wins
• Toronto -  Pan Alive Panorama 2018 - Pan Fantasy wins 2018 Panorama title - click to view results
• Antigua & Barbuda National Panorama - Both Hells Gate and Panache Steel Orchestras win 2018 Panorama - Co-Champions - click
• Zahra Lake is the first woman in Antigua and Barbuda Panorama history to become a champion arranger. She arranged for Panache Steel Orchestra
• Grenada National Panorama 2018 Competition -  Commancheros wins - click for article, results & video
• UK Panorama 2018 - Mangrove Steelband Wins 2018 Panorama title - click for article, results & video
• New York Panorama 2018 - Despers USA Steel Orchestra wins 2018 Panorama title

 


Beverley Ramsey-Moore
• History was made with the first female president of Pan Beverly Ramsey-Moore became the 17th President and the first female to hold this position in Pan Trinbago’s seventy two (72) year history. The Black Rock, Tobago born manager off Katzenjammers Steel Orchestra emerged victorious following the triennial election of officers convened at thee Mucurapo East Secondary School, St. James, on Sunday October 28th... see more
• Mr. Winston A Bailey  the recipient of an Honorary Doctorate from The UWI St, Augustine Campus  - DLitt

Click for 2018 Headlines

•   Steve Achaiba - Panist and arranger  -   passes - 7-19-2018  -- click for more

• Dr. Ellie Mannette, legendary steelband icon - tuner, performer et al passes - 29th August 2018 -  click for more

• Antigua and Barbuda steel pan patriarch George “Nugget” Joseph passed away on Wednesday 29 August, 2018 at the age of 102 years. -  click for more

•   Ken "Professor" Philmore, legendary steelpan icon and ambassador - arranger, performer et al passes - 30th September 2018 -  click for more

• Kim Loy Wong,  legendary steelband icon - tuner, tuner, performer -  founder of Highlanders Steel Orchestra - passes on  3rd October 2018 -  click for more

• Legendary Calypsonian icon Winston 'Mighty Shadow' Bailey   passes - 23rd October 2018 -  click for more

• Calypsonian icon Winston 'DeFosto' Scarborough   passes - 2nd November 2018 -  click for more

• Calypsonian icon Lord Superior (Andrew Marcano)   passes - 24th November 2018 -  click for more

2024 Panorama Champions

• Trinidad & Tobago National Panorama 2024 -  Renegades and  Trinidad All Stars tie for the 2024 championship.
• France holds second ever Panorama - Calypsociation Sunday Band takes first place.  See more
• Guyana panorama 2024 -- The under the baton of Sergeant Ray Sparman re-captured the Panorama 2024 title on Sunday last at Marriott beachfront, as they dethroned Kunjaz Steel Orchestra and Pangroove Steel Orchestra.  -- see results
• St. Vincent & The Grenadines Panorama 2024  - Starlift Steel Orchestra Triumphs
• St. Lucia Panorama 2024 - Babonneau Steel Orchestra Retains Title with Arranger Allison Marquis
• Toronto -  Pan Alive Panorama 2024
• Antigua & Barbuda National Panorama 2024 - Hells Gate Steel Orchestra - “Ah Love It Here”
• Grenada National Panorama 2023 - New Dinension Steel Orchestra wins National Panorama - see results
• UK Panorama 2024 - See results
• New York Panorama 2024 - Pan Evolution Wins

• The Story of Pan in Antigua - History
• Aruba's Steel Bands and the Steelpan Art Form - History
• The Story of Pan in the Bahamas - History
• The Story of Pan in Grenada - History
• Rise of the Steelband in Guyana - History
• The History of Steelband in Jamaica - History
• Steelbands of New York - History
• The Story of Pan in St. Lucia - History
• Vignettes of Pan History - The Montreal Story  - History
• St. Vincent and the Steelpan Art Form - History

_{When Steel Talks / PanOnTheNet.com  -- News Sources -- Interviews; 1973-present
Pan Magazine - Vol,1,2,3 - 1985-1988 - Les Slater - Dalton Narine
Forty Years in the Steelbands 1939-1979: George “Sonny” Goddard 1991 Karia Press
International Conference on Pan, The Steelband - Musical Miracle of the Twentieth Century: Teddy Belgrave
Voices From the Hills, 1987: Ancil Anthony Neil
Soul of Pan: Trevor Belmosa, 1989, Servol Printing Service, Port of Spain Trinidad WI
Steelband - The Music of Trinidad & Tobago
** UK Daily Mirror, September 23, 1965, p. 7
Steelbands of New York - 1985 - Doris Green}

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All rights reserved

Compiled by When Steel Talks

Last modified: September 08, 2024