Global - Veteran songwriter, arranger, recording artist, composer and performer Pelham Goddard has long been associated with the steelpan instrument. Having won several steelband competitions with Exodus Steel Orchestra, Mr. Goddard is part of a very elite class of steelband arrangers on the planet. Pelham Goddard has penned and/or arranged some of the most memorable Caribbean music pieces ever.
For the year 2010 Mr. Goddard has again contributed some material to the growing list of songs for the annual Trinidad and Tobago National Steelband Panorama competition.
In the interview, below, with When Steel Talks, Pelham Goddard shares some of his thoughts on pan music and more.
InterviewWST - You are a veteran songwriter, champion Panorama arranger, and accomplished musician. What’s different about today’s so-called “pan tune” compared to 10 or 20 years ago?
Pelham - First let’s thank Mr. Ray Holman for having the vision of writing music [Pan On the Move] for the instrument, although some people could not understand and can’t deal with anything that is new - and they will say Sparrow and Kitchener make music, and that will be a ‘yes,’ but most bands had to transpose to fit their range.
WST - 2009 Panorama was a strange year for Exodus. Have you put 2009 behind you?
Pelham - Yes, because there are new people in charge and no [Pan Trinbago] President is going set up Exodus again, so things will be back to normal.
WST - You are involved with two songs this year that have very strong messages - ‘Pan In De Mas’ sung by David Rudder and ‘Two Sticks in Meh Hand’ sung by Percil Nock-Boyce. Do you think folks will get the messages, and/or have already gotten them?
Pelham - I have arranged and produced more than six pan songs for the year but Pan In De Mas is a little special because I have in my corner Mr. David Rudder, and the song has been receiving some air play. It is also on Facebook and YouTube and it will be played by Exodus.
WST - 2010 is a big year for pan tunes. Are you happy with the way things have been going thus far?
Pelham - We have some good ones; they are well produced with good melodic value and harmony. What the arrangers hear first is the melody, then they will hear the chords, and also the lyrics are in front - they will hear that last, so some producers have to make sure they have the correct harmony.
WST - What is a pan tune from your perspective?
Pelham - A pan song is a melody that fits the range of the instrument without transposing; it [the pan song] doesn’t have to say thing about pan.
WST - After the Panorama season each year, what is your focus, and what projects are you involved with?
Pelham - After Panorama, it’s back to what I do everyday: studio work. I have on my laptop some calypso jazz arrangements of songs like “Life Is a Stage” and others I started last summer in New York, so I will complete it. Plus I want to start a school at my home teaching people who want to read and perform.
WST - What is next for Pelham Goddard?
Pelham - At present I am performing again as Pelham Goddard and Friends - and will withdraw myself from that Panorama in New York so I could build back my name in the music industry.
Steelband music arranger and composer
Sample of songs written by P.
Goddard:
“The Hammer, “Savannah Party,” “Happy Song,” “Panama,” “Dedication,”
“Play My Music,” “The Unknown Band,” “The Band Plays On,” “Jungle Fever,”
“Calalloo” and “Calabash,” - all flowed from the musical pen
of Pelham Goddard. His synthesizer solo on “Woman On The Bass”
is just a ‘sample’ of his synth work, being the first musician to use the
synthesizer in calypso music.
Other distinguished music works from
Pelham Goddard:
“Is Mas,” “Family Affair,” “Tribute to the Old,” “Mister Robbie,” “Trini
Prance,” “The Plan,” “Suck Finger Baby,” “Non-stop Fete,” “The Case of Disappearing
Panyards,” “Olympic Mas,” “Sunshine and You,” “Latin Soca,” “Outta Hand,”
“Soca Tassa Festival,” “Winer Girl,” “The Power and the Glory,” “Jump Up,”
“The Iron Band,” “Dust in Dey Face,” “Rat Race,” “Simple Thing,” “Raise
Yuh Foot,” “Jump for Joy,” “Voodoo Soca Man,” “Jump Up,” “Honky Tonk Soca”
and “Parade.”
Sample of songs arranged/produced in studio by P. Goddard:
- 1977 - Tempo (Calypso Rose)
- 1978 - Soca Jam (Calypso Rose)
- 1980 - Soca Baptist (Superblue)
- 1981 - Ethel (Superblue)
- 1983 - Rebecca (Superblue)
- 1988 - Dis Party is It (Chris ‘Tambu’ Herbert)
- 1989 - Free Up, Free Up (Chris ‘Tambu’ Herbert)
- 1989 - The Journey (Chris ‘Tambu’ Herbert)
- 1990 - No, No, We Eh Goin’ Home (Chris ‘Tambu’ Herbert)
- 1986 - Bahia Girl (David Rudder)
- 1992 - Wine on Something (Superblue)
Pelham Goddard at When Steel Talks
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