NARRATIVE OF ROBERT GREENIDGE
Biography:
Robert Greenidge Arranger, Composer, Steel Drum & Recording Artist
Robert Greenidge was born in Success Village, Laventille,
Trinidad, West Indies on 28 April 1950. His first playing
experience came under the direction of an uncle, Carl Greenidge
who was a renowned arranger and tuner. At the tender age of eight,
he began executing the art of the steel drums with the Savoys
Steel Orchestra. Possessing an artistic ear for playing various
types of compositions, he was recruited at the age of 15 by
Trinidad’s leading steel orchestra "Desperadoes" winning several
prestigious awards including: the Prime Minister Trophy, The
Triple Crown, The Governors General Cup, and the Music Festival
Trophy.
At sixteen Robert Greenidge performed at the First Negro Arts
Festival in Africa, and during the following year 1967, he
performed at the Montreal Exposition in Canada, followed by an
extensive tour to London, Zambia and New York in 1968. In 1970 he
was chosen to represent Trinidad and Tobago, both as a soloist and
a member of Trinidad National Steel Orchestra.
In 1971 Robert Greenidge migrated to New York City, to study
composing and arranging at the Third Street Musical Conservatory.
He toured with the Music Makers Steel Orchestra for the next two
years through California and Nevada. Greenidge settled in Los
Angeles, California in 1974. He recorded with various artist such
as, Maurice White, Earth Wind and Fire, and John Lennon and Ringo
Star of the Beatles just to name a few.
By 1978 Robert Greenidge returned to Trinidad to work with Rudolph
Charles (Desperadoes), one of the innovators of a newly designed
steel drum which required hand, foot coordination dexterity and
speed. His expertise bought the Desperadoes Steel Orchestra to a
new height in music. Ever since the Trinidad Carnival of 1979,
Greenidge returns to Trinidad every year to play.
Robert Greenidge's awesome pan solos can be heard on numerous
movie soundtracks including Brothers, Hard to Kill, 48 Hours and
Cool Runnings. He has also performed on television with the
Jackson Five, on the Love Boat and the Tonight Show with both
Johnny Carson and Jay Leno.
In 1992 Robert Greenidge performed for the president of the United
States – President Clinton's Inauguration and again for President
Clinton's surprise birthday party at the White House in August
1995. He continues to tour with Jimmy Buffet and his own group
“the Club Trini Band”. He has the honor of performing perhaps the
most well known pan solo of all time on Grover Washington Jr’s
“Just the Two of Us.”
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