Rudolph Charles
Global - In a few days - March 29th, to be exact - it will be thirty-five years [thirty-eight years - this year, 2023] since the death of one of the most influential figures in the history of the steelpan movement. Rudolph Valentino Charles was one of the finest leaders, innovators and visionaries ever produced by the twin island republic of Trinidad and Tobago. His ideas, concepts and products still reverberate in steelpan music communities globally today, both in terms of his inventions and the people he influences and motivates. Moreover, his thought process and vision went way past the steelpan art form.
The life and deeds of Rudolph Charles have taken on legendary and mythical proportions to those who did not know him. Indeed, he will be forever immortalized through the David Rudder smash soca hit and tribute, “The Hammer.” But for those who new him personally and the community that he served, he remains as real and relevant as he was thirty-five years ago.
In an era that produced special men whose courage, leadership skills, intellectual and creative genius (the likes of whom have rarely been seen since) - Rudolph Charles of Desperadoes Steel Orchestra was indeed part of this select and very rare breed. He was noted for several inventions and innovations including the nine-bass, quadraphonic pan, triple tenor, rocket bass, and the chroming of steelpan instruments as well as the use of aluminum canopies.
Anthony Williams of North Stars Steel Orchestra, Bertie Marshall of Highlanders Steel Orchestra, Neville Jules of Trinidad All Stars, Ellie Mannette of Invaders, Rudolph Charles and a few others - are part of the elite few who facilitated, inspired and demanded greatness from those who would become the future great ones.
As an organizer, motivator and director, Charles had few equals. His relentless pursuit of excellence earned him the highest accolades from the likes of the Prime Minster of Trinidad and Tobago - the Honorable Eric Williams, the great Neville Jules and legendary arranger and master musician Clive Bradley, among many others.
Glenda Gamory (president Pantonic Steel Orchestra), Emmanuel “Jack” Riley (tuner, panist extraordinaire), Robert Greenidge (soloist, arranger), Ralph MacDonald (percussionist) Destra Garcia (writer, artist) the late Scipio “Sarge” Sargeant (arranger, artist), Dalton Narine (producer, writer of The Doc, The Hammer and the Shoe Box) and countless others - have all spoken to When Steel Talks over the years about the profound influence Rudolph Charles had on their lives and their own significant contributions to the steelpan movement.
It is always possible to expand upon that which exists. But to be an original, to be the first, and to dare go where no one has gone before, and with success - is unique. Thirty-five years later Rudolph Charles is still that - unique. Mythical - larger than life.
From Rudolph Charles'
memoriam:
Rudolph Valentino
Charles was born in Laventille.
He was the forth of nine
children born to Georgiana
Charles and Sidney Charles. He
attend Rosary Boys' R.C. and
later Tranquility Boys'
Government School.
His early years were always
spent among people to whom he
endeared himself by his
leadership and guidance among
his peers. His dedication to his
community and his selfless
devotion proved fruitful in all
his endeavors. The many trophies
attest to this. His most prized
trophy, his wife Carol, was
chosen from among the belles of
Laventille.
He led his community and band with a
togetherness that could only
have been achieved by love and
total commitment to the cause.
An untimely death, we mourn, and pray God that the seed planted will
bear fruit...

The
Hammer
by
David
Rudder
Somewhere
up
in
Laventille
Many
years
ago
A
man
had
a
hammer
Used
to
follow
him
to
and
fro
He
used
to
use
it
to
pound
a
pan
Or
sometimes
a
stupid
man
All
in
the
savannah
Never
miss
Panorama
One
day
the
old
hammer
just
disappear
Some
say
that
it
vanish
into
thin
air
Where
de
man
wid
de
hammer
gone
Tell
me,
tell
me
where
he
gone
Anybody
know
where
de
hammer
gone
Tell
me,
tell
where
he
gone
Can
you
tell
we
what
going
on
Tell
me,
tell
where
he
gone
Ah
want
to
know
where
de
hammer
gone
Tell
me,
tell
where
he
gone
Why
you
up
and
leave,
trail
Why
you
make
me
grieve,
trail
Hammer
tell
me
flat,
trail
Why
you
do
we
dat,
trail
Well
the
dragon
doh
walk
the
trail
no
more,
Well
the
dragon
doh
walk
the
trail
no
more.
From
April
of
’85
Hammer
went
to
sleep
After
years
of
making
noise,
Not
even
a
peep
He
used
to
move
wid
de
dragon
man
All
through
this
soca
land
Always
on
the
scene
They
used
to
control
the
barber-green
But
the
dragon
doh
walk
the
trail
no
more
Who
holding
the
hammer
I
want
to
know.
Where
de
man
wid
de
hammer
gone
Tell
me,
tell
where
he
gone
Look
Thunderbolt
Williams,
what
going
on
Tell
me,
tell
where
he
gone
This
thing
like
a
police
boot
on
meh
corn,
Tell
me,
tell
where
he
gone
And
now
ah
hear
it
by
Y'De
Lima
on
pawn
Tell
me,
tell
where
he
gone
Look
children
Search
under
yuh
bed,
trail
All
above
yuh
head,
trail
Look
behind
the
door,
trail,
What
yuh
waiting
for,
trail
Well
the
dragon
doh
walk
the
trail
no
more,
Well
the
dragon
doh
walk
the
trail
no
more.
On a
silver
chariot
Riding
to
the
sun
Leaving
fire
in
its
wake
Spirits
on
the
run
As
we
gather
round
that
day
Ah
hear
sister
Sheila
say
How
last
night
she
see
a
sign
She
see
the
hammer
and
it
doing
fine
Same
time
thunder
roll
she
bawl
out
“You
see!”
He
done
start
to
tune
a
pan
already
Where
de
man
wid
de
hammer
gone
Tell
me,
tell
where
he
gone
Sister
Sheila
darling,
what
going
on
Tell
me,
tell
where
he
gone
This
hammer
giving
we a
heavy
horn,
Tell
me,
tell
where
he
gone
This
thing
like
a
police
boot
on
meh
corn,
Tell
me,
tell
where
he
gone
Children
Search
all
through
the
town,
trail
Turn
it
upside
down,
trail
Check
on
top
de
hill,
trail,
On
dat
window
sill,
trail
Well
the
dragon
doh
walk
the
trail
no
more,
Well
the
dragon
doh
walk
the
trail
no
more.
I
want
to
hear
the
hammer
ringing
out
From
every
panyard
From
Europe
to
Africa
Just
like
here
in
Trinidad
This
hammer
must
never
die
Let
me
tell
you
why
Anytime
the
music
dead
Is
then
life
go
buss
we
head
So
the
children
start
singing
the
refrain
Begging
me
to
ask
the
question
again
Where
the
man
wid
de
hammer
gone
tell
me,
tell
me
where
he
gone
Search
up
in
Whitehall
Ransack
de
town
hall
And
if
we
eh
find
it
deh
Mus
be
Millette
who
take
it
away
Well
the
dragon
doh
walk
the
trail
no
more,
Well
the
dragon
doh
walk
the
trail
no
more.