New York,
USA -
Some of our
greatest
memories of
Pan in the
New York
area comes
from
steelbands
performing
in Harlem,
New York.
Alas, gone
are the days
when
Harlem All
Stars Steel
Orchestra
ruled the
island of
Manhattan. It has been
years since
we have seen a
steelband
participate
in the
annual African American Day Parade.
It has been
a seven-year
drought
since Harlem
All Stars
closed the
African
American Day
Parade in
the late
evening of
that
September
day back in
2003, as
hundreds
joined and
chipped
alongside
and within
the band.
(Mouseover
above and
click for
2010 video
highlights).
Harlem All Stars close off the African American parade:
2003, Harlem NY
The legendary Emmanuel “Jack” Riley (in shades) in band at
the African American parade in 2003
Harlem has a
rich history
with the
steelpan
instrument.
From
Rudy King
(the man who
introduced
the Steelpan
to America)
to
Ralph
McDonald
(Grammy-award
wining,
producer,
songwriter
and
percussionist)
to Harry
Belafonte,
the steelpan
instrument
has had no
shortage of
associated stars,
history and
influence in
Harlem.
Much has
changed over
the years.
Harlem All
Stars, and a
couple of
the Brooklyn steel
orchestras
who would
make the
trek to the
Harlem parade,
always added
that
Caribbean
element to
the event.
They used to
play way
into the
night to the
large,
cheering
crowds.
All that has
disappeared.
Unfortunately,
there are
many who may
never get to
hear or see
a steelband
perform in
the place
(Harlem)
where in
1950, one
year after
he
introduced
it to
America -
Rudy King
played a
steelpan in
the Harlem Day
Parade.
Community spirit strong, several Brooklyn players joined Harlem All Stars for the
African American parade back in 2003, Harlem NY
Steel band on the DC 37 float in the African American
parade in 2003 - Harlem, NY
This is
2010 and the
41st
edition of
this annual
tradition; the parade
has lost a
lot of its
vibrancy as
the numbers
of the
staunch
supporters
have
dwindled,
but its
heart still
beats;
marching
bands, step
teams,
representatives
of Black
organizations
and more
still turn
out.
And it is
they, and
the
reverberations
of the drums
throughout, that make
the
hours-long
parade still
a force to
be reckoned
with, and a
sight to
behold - this
year running
from 111th
through 136th
Streets
along Adam
Clayton-Powell
Boulevard in
Harlem. Additionally
what was
once an
event that
went into
late
evening, was
instead closed
off by 4:30 p.m.
by
authorities
who had been
hurrying
participants
all along from
the start of
the route.
So, every
year we
still attend
the parade
hoping that
this will be
the year
when the
steelbands
will return
to Harlem,
and we will
hear iron
and steel
reverberating
off of the
classic
brownstones
on Adam
Clayton-Powell Boulevard,
reviving the
old
tradition of
“Pan in
Harlem” in
the place
Max, Miles,
Dizzy, Bird
and many
other
musical,
artistic and
literary
giants made
so many
contributions
to the art
and culture.
This was not
the case for
2010 - but,
there is
always next
year...
Harlem All Stars’ flagman proudly holds the band’s flag
for the 2003 African American parade
