Harry
Best
California,
USA -
‘Pan is the
Ting’ is Harry Best’s
first attempt at writing a
complete tune for Panorama. Two
years ago he collaborated with
calypsonian Crazy and producer
Phil Hawkins on the Panorama
tune ‘Pan
Wisdom.’ Harry was
the lyricist.
Harry is no stranger to
pan. A native of St. Lucia in
the Caribbean, Harry has been
one of the top providers of pan
music to patrons all over
northern California for three
decades. He has founded
steelbands, conducted steel drum
classes and promoted steel drum
events.
Harry is the principal owner of
Kakesa.com, the chief supplier
of steelpans and accessories to
schools throughout the San
Francisco Bay Area. He is the
author of four books and a
recording and performing panist
with four albums to his credit.
Harry started his pan
career with Patrick Arnold,
former President of Pan
Trinbago, when the latter
resided in the California in the
1970s and 80s. He was
instrumental in bringing the Our
Boys Steel Orchestra to
California where they worked
with the likes of Andy and Jeff Narell as well as Tom Miller to
set the standard for steelbands
in the area.
Harry’s prolific
songwriting career started in
the early 90s when he wrote hits
like ‘Lolay Lolai’ and
‘Come
Girl’ for the late calypsonian
Arrow. He has also collaborated
and consulted with calypsonians
and musicians in Trinidad and
Tobago, St. Lucia and
Montserrat.
In 1997, Harry
formed his current group Shabang,
with which he has recorded two
CDs, and is in the process of
recording a third. The group
appears regularly at clubs and
events throughout northern
California.
‘Pan is the
Ting’ is a cut on an
upcoming album that features the
collaborated efforts of Harry
and producer/panist Phil
Hawkins. The album is expected
to be released in the spring of
2011.
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