Web Posted - Sunday April 30, 2023
When Steel Talks

“Echophone” steelpan made by Herman “Rock” Johnston

Herman Johnston, who developed the Echophone steelpan
Herman Johnston, who developed the Echophone steelpan

Florida, USA - On Monday (April 30, 2001) Mr. Johnston, who moved his family to Spring Hill from New York 12 years ago, died at home after a four-year battle with prostate cancer.

....The former body builder-turned-steel-drum-band-leader gained international acclaim in the early 1960s after coming up with an innovation that stretched the instrument’s musical range from 24 to 36 notes - the Echophone steelpan.
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Web Posted - Friday April 28, 2023
When Steel Talks

Legendary panist Robert Greenidge speaks on the Rudolph Charles version and origin of the Triple-Second steelpan

Robert Greenidge with his Triple-second
Robert Greenidge with his Triple-second

Trinidad & Tobago, W.I. - The triple-second was never featured in Desperadoes Steel Orchestra. Nevertheless, it is one of the signature voices and achievements of the late, great Rudolph Charles. The instrument was a personal favorite of the late, great Grammy award-winner Ralph MacDonald. It was featured often with Robert Greenidge playing it on MacDonald’s albums..
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Web Posted - Thursday April 27, 2023
The Times-Standard

Ray Holman joins Humboldt Calypso Band

Ray Holman from Trinidad & Tobago performs with the Humboldt Calypso Band during a previous performance.
Ray Holman from Trinidad & Tobago performs with the Humboldt Calypso Band during a previous performance.

California,  USA - The Department of Dance, Music, and Theatre at Cal Poly Humboldt will present the Humboldt Calypso Band Saturday at 8 p.m. in the Van Duzer Theatre on the university campus in Arcata.

....The concert will showcases the festive dance music of the Humboldt Calypso Band along with a special guest steelband artist, the legendary Ray Holman from Trinidad & Tobago. The concert will be directed by Eugene Novotney.

....Holman has an assured place among the all-time greats of steelband arrangers and composers. He has enjoyed extraordinary longevity as a leader in the steelpan movement worldwide and holds the distinction of being the first person to compose and arrange an original tune for steelband for the Trinidad & Tobago National Panorama.
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Web Posted - Monday April 24, 2023
The Ellsworth American

30th Pan New England Steel Band Festival in Blue Hill May 6 and 7

Members of Flash! in the Pans perform at a steel drum concert in Blue Hill 2021.
Members of Flash! in the Pans perform at a steel drum concert in Blue Hill 2021.

Maine, USA - Bagaduce Music and Pan Institute are excited to present the 30th Pan New England Steel Band Festival. In the spirit of the tradition that Carl and Susan Chase created in Blue Hill, the two-day festival will be celebrated in their honor.

The festival will take place Saturday, May 6, and Sunday, May 7, on the campus of Bagaduce Music at 49 South St. in Blue Hill. This is a public festival, bringing together steel bands from all over New England for two days of music and fellowship.

....Bands set to participate in this year’s festival include: Vintage Steel, from the University of Maine-Augusta; two groups from Gorham Middle School; a group from Stratton Elementary School; Steel Industry from North Yarmouth Academy; Pan Fried Steel from Yarmouth; The Panhandlers, from Vermont; Flash! in the Pans from Blue Hill; Steel Revolution, from George Stevens Academy; Soul Surfers, from George Stevens Academy; Planet Pan, from Blue Hill; Rhythm Rockets, from Blue Hill; and Millennial Steel, from Blue Hill.

Saturday, May 6
Music Celebration and Backyard Party

....There will be a barbecue and potluck dinner at 6 p.m., followed by an evening featuring Carl Chase’s songs and arrangements performed by Ready About! and the Atlantic Clarion Steel Band with special guests.
See complete schedule


Web Posted - Monday April 24, 2023
Trinidad Express Newspapers

50 years of pan studies

Northern Illinois University marks milestone...

Humble beginnings: The original NIU Steelband in 1973.
Humble beginnings: The original NIU Steelband in 1973.

Illinois, USA - From a humble start with a self-taught panist, the Northern Illinois University (NIU) pan studies programme is now the world’s grand dame of higher education for the 20th-century instrument. As NIU celebrates 50 years of pan studies, it continues to be recognised as the world’s best, with the only master’s programme globally.

The world’s oldest pan music programme, headed by Trinbagonian professor Liam Teague, marked its golden anniversary in a recent concert, with an international audience, including a few people from Trinidad and Tobago.
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Web Posted - Friday April 21, 2023
NSU News

Steel Band Workshop and Concert to be held April 28

Natchitoches, Louisiana, USA - Northwestern State University’s Steel Bands will host the Third Annual Steel Band Workshop on Friday, April 28. The workshop will be from 2 p.m. to 4 p.m. in the William Brent Band Room. A concert will be held at 7:30 p.m. in Magale Recital Hall.

....The concert will feature music from Trinidad and Tobago and by Earth, Wind and Fire, the Beatles and more. Featured groups will include the NSU Steel PanDEMONium Band, Thursday Night Band and participants in the Third Annual Steel Band Workshop.
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Web Posted - Thursday April 20, 2023
Trinidad & Tobago Guardian

A day in Surrey... with Parang and Pan

A day in Surrey... with Parang and Pan

Trinidad & Tobago, W.I. - Scores of people converged at the Supernovas panyard in Lopinot last Saturday evening for a night of parang and pan music.

The event titled ‘A Day in Surrey’ sponsored by First Citizens, featured some of the best bands in T&T including Los Sonidos, Los Amigos Cantadores, steelband champions 2023 bp Renegades, medium band champs Katzenjammers from Black Rock, Tobago, NLCB Fonclaire and First Citizens Supernovas.


Web Posted - Wednesday April 19, 2023
NSU News

NSU Percussion Ensemble, Steel Band to perform

Natchitoches, Louisiana, USA - The NSU (Northwestern State University) Percussion Ensemble will present its spring concert on Friday, April 21 at 7:30 p.m. in Magale Recital Hall. Admission is free and open to the public. The concert will be livestreamed at capa.nsula.edu/livestream.

....After intermission, the Steel Band will play “Birthday Party” by Len “Boogsie” Sharpe and arranged by Irvine & Popernack, “September” by Earth, Wind, & Fire and arranged by Ziegler and “Float” by Machel Montano and arranged by Ziegler.
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Web Posted - Monday April 17, 2023
The Daily News

Steel symphony: Steel band festival brings new sounds to Batavia

Members of the Carnival Kids Steel Orchestra of Lancaster perform at Saturday’s festival.
Members of the Carnival Kids Steel Orchestra of Lancaster perform at Saturday’s festival.

Batavia, New York, USA - ....There was a time in Trinidad and Tobago, as Alfred St. John and Paul Ferrette recounted Saturday, when having a pair of drumsticks in your pocket and wearing your cap backward carried an edge of danger.

....The gathering brought five steel bands from as far away as Ithaca for an afternoon of performances. Each reflected a variety of styles and genres, played on steel drums and demonstrating the instrument’s versatility.

....Saturday’s festival included the Ithaca College IC Steel band; the Lancaster High School Carnival Kids Steel Orchestra; the RIT Tiger Steel band; and the Steel Alchemy Community Steel Band.
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Web Posted - Monday April 17, 2023
OJO World

Government lobbies for World Steelpan Day

Trinidad & Tobago, W.I. - Government, along with the Steelpan Trust of T&T and Pan Trinbago, are lobbying to the United Nations General Assembly to have August 7th declared as World Steelpan Day.

The announcement was made my Culture Minister Randall Mitchell, during Sunday’s opening of the new home for the Desperadoes Steel Orchestra.

“That is presently being developed in collaboration with the Ministry of Foreign and CARICOM Affairs, and we look forward to our lobby and that application being made,” Minister Mitchell said.
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Web Posted - Monday April 17, 2023
Trinidad Express Newspapers

Despers gets $14m ‘home’ in downtown Pos

Swirling Moves: Dancers from North West Laventille Cultural Movement perform for guests during yesterday’s opening of the Witco Desperadoes Pan Theatre at George Street, Port of Spain
Swirling Moves: Dancers from North West Laventille Cultural Movement perform for guests during yesterday’s opening of the Witco Desperadoes Pan Theatre at George Street, Port of Spain

Trinidad & Tobago, W.I. - Desperadoes Steel Orchestra has been handed the keys to its new home in downtown Port of Spain.

The multi-million-dollar facility was officially opened yesterday afternoon following a ceremony attended by several hundred people.

It was recently completed by State agency, the Urban Development Corporation of Trinidad and Tobago (UDeCOTT), at a cost of approximately $14 million [circa US$2,058,000] and is located at George Street.

The pan theatre includes the panyard, a car park and the main commercial building outfitted with classrooms.
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Web Posted - Monday April 17, 2023
USM.edu

Steel Pan Musical Extravaganza set for April 20

Andy Narell
Andy Narell

Mississippi, USA - The The Southern Miss Steel Pan Orchestra (SoMiSPO) and world-renowned guest artist Andy Narell will present Sea of Stories: A Steelpan Musical Extravaganza. This program, which is being jointly presented by the University of Southern Mississippi (USM) and Mississippi Gulf Coast Community College (MGCCC), brings the exciting rhythms and lyric melodies of Calypso and Soca music to the Coast.

The highly anticipated concert will take place at Mississippi Gulf Coast Community College’s state-of-the-art Immersive Media Performing Arts Center (iMPAC) at 7 p.m. on Thursday, April 20. The concert is free and open to the public.
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Web Posted - Friday April 14, 2023
Northern Public Radio

The Sound of Science - ‘Steelpan Acoustics’

The Sound of Science - ‘Steelpan Acoustics’

Illinois, USA - Newt: You’re listening to The Sound of Science on WNIJ. I’m Newt with NIU STEAM. April marks the 50th anniversary of NIU’s CSA steelband. So we’re talking to steelpan aficionados to get some insight this month. Today, hear Jay Smith explain acoustics.

Jay: What is common to most musical instruments is that something is vibrating which then vibrates the air then that’s what we hear....It could be a membrane like the drum, that would be a membranophone. Or it could be like in the case of a steelpan, it could be the body of the instrument itself, and that would be an idiophone.

....But in the case of the steelpan, you’re mainly just selecting different notes and controlling the amplitude, although where you strike the note also will have a little effect on the timbre itself. So therefore you are extremely, very dependent upon a quality tuner to control those other factors that have to be taken into account prior to the performance.
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Web Posted - Friday April 7, 2023
Northern Public Radio

The Sound of Science - ‘Crafting the Steelpan’

Illinois, USA - Newt: You’re listening to The Sound of Science on WNIJ. I’m Newt with NIU STEAM. NIU’s CSA steelband hits 50 years old this April, so steelpan player Chad Nichols is going to tell us a little bit about the crafting of the steelpan.

Chad: A steelpan is a percussive instrument that originated in the Caribbean island of Trinidad and Tobago in the late 1930s. Originally, it is made of a 55 gallon oil drum. The process of creating a steelpan involves various steps and the method that I’ll be introducing today is what was taught by the late Dr. Clifford Alexis, a steelpan pioneer who worked at the Northern Illinois University steelpan program for 30 years.
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Web Posted - Thursday April 6, 2023
Livingston County News

Music by the barrel: Steel band Festival set for Batavia

Members of the Steel Alchemy Drum Band are seen performing during a past Geneseo Rotary Summer Festival.
Members of the Steel Alchemy Drum Band are seen performing during a past Geneseo Rotary Summer Festival.

Batavia, New York, USA - For the first time a Steelband Festival is coming to Batavia.

GO! ART will be hosting the Western New York Steel Band Festival on Saturday, April 15 at the Batavia City Center. Organized by teaching artist and percussionist, Ted Canning, the event welcomes everyone to come enjoy steel pan bands performing on this instrument developed in Trinidad and Tobago.

....The Western New York Steel Band Festival begins at 2 p.m. with a pre-concert presentation, Pan in Trinidad, with longtime Rochester pan player and band leader, Alfred St. John.

....The idea for the Steelband Festival came from when Canning took his community band, Steel Alchemy, to a couple Steelband festivals in Ohio.
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Web Posted - Thursday April 6, 2023
steinhardt.nyu.edu

NYU Steel Takes the Stage

NYU Steel Takes the Stage
NYU Steel

New York, USA - NYU Steel celebrates the history, music, and culture of Trinidad and Tobago. This concert will feature works by Kendall K. Williams, The United Sisters, Matthew Best, and the exciting world premiere of Mia Gormandy-Benjamin’s arrangement of Gustav Holst The Planets. Joining us for this special performance will be guest artists Pan in Motion Steel Orchestra from Brooklyn, NY.
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Web Posted - Wednesday April 5, 2023
Trinidad and Tobago Newsday

Work on Desperadoes Steel Orchestra Pan Theatre completed

New digs: The newly built Desperadoes panyard on George Street in Port of Spain.
New digs: The newly built Desperadoes panyard on George Street in Port of Spain.

Trinidad & Tobago, W.I. - Work on the Desperadoes Pan Theatre has been completed, the Urban Development Corporation (Udecott) confirmed via e-mail on Wednesday afternoon.

....The corporation did not give an official opening date but Newsday understands this may take place in mid-April.

....Desperadoes is currently in discussion with The Roy Cape Foundation to expand the programme into more than just pan.

“That is instrumental because Roy Cape has been an instrumental part of Desperadoes’ legacy and history, being the one that brought in, in the early days, our winning Panorama arrangers: Beverly Griffith and Clive Bradley....”
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Web Posted
When Steel Talks

Complete Summary of Results of all Conventional Steel Orchestras - 2023 Trinidad & Tobago National Panorama

Summary of Results of all Conventional Steel Orchestras - 2023 Trinidad & Tobago National Panorama

Trinidad & Tobago, W.I. - At a glance and on a single page, access the comprehensive summary of results for the Small, Medium and Large conventional steel orchestras that participated in their respective categories in the 2023 Panorama.

Follow the musical journey of respective bands through all three phases - compare side-by-side preliminaries, semi-finals and finals through data on band info, scores, tunes of choice and arrangers - on one page.
access full summary


When Steel Talks

Facebook got it wrong - Meta World and WST & SteelPan Are Friends Again

Facebook “Likes” sends PanOnTheNet Apology - “We got it wrong”

Metaverse - Facebook got it wrong. About three years ago without warning or reason all WST (When Steel Talks) steelpan-related accounts fell out of favor with the social media giant Facebook now known as Meta and its aligned consortiums (Facebook, Instagram, and WhatsApp). Because WST has all of our material hosted on our own shared servers, this ‘tag’ was not incurable or as problematic as it could have been. However, it was annoying to have people seeking critical steelpan music info diverted by Facebook AI (artificial intelligence).
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Web Posted
When Steel Talks

Technology Giant “Google” Celebrates the steelpan instrument via Google Doodle

Celebrating Steelpan - Illustration by artist Nicholas Huggins

Doodle of steelpan instrument ‘live’ on Google’s web site
Doodle of steelpan instrument ‘live’ on Google’s web site

Global - On Tuesday July 26, 2022 the steelpan instrument of Trinidad and Tobago is featured and celebrated on the site of technology giant “Google” via the famed Google ‘Doodle.’ The ‘Doodle’ is essentially an illustrative change made to the Google corporate logo “to celebrate holidays, anniversaries, and the lives of famous artists, pioneers, and scientists” - and more. The doodle is then seen by users all around the world who access Google’s homepage on that day, and is available thereafter in the doodle archives.

....Trinidad and Tobago-based artist Nicholas Huggins is the creator of the illustrative artwork featured in the doodle, while Etienne Charles is the composer of the accompanying music performed by the legendary steelpan icon Len “Boogsie” Sharpe.
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