A Review
National Panorama
Finals "Live" CD

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Down Steelpan Memory Lane With Rudy Bishop
By Ruel Johnson

Guyana -  Rudy Bishop, is one of the few people who can live up the cliché, “a man of many talents”. Chin described him as “an indefatigable hustler, entrepreneur, missionary, diplomat, conductor, a veritable Steelband Moses.”

Though, as he related to Sunday Chronicle, his endeavors in the area of community development - especially his work in developing the Camptown community group - are notable in themselves, the thing that Bishop is most renowned for is his organization of the Chronicle Atlantic Symphony Orchestra. Bishop recounted how this seminal steelband came about; the trials it went through to establish itself; the heady days of success; and the subsequent decline of the band.

When the Kitty-based band called the Skylarks, managed by Rudy Bishop, split up after playing in the May 26, 1966 Independence celebrations, some of the members decided to form another band. Without a building to play in, and no suitable venue to practice at, they began to go to the seawall at the Kitty foreshore to hone their pan skills.  [full story]