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ANDERSON CUPID
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Anderson Cupid |
Born in the tropical twin
isles of Trinidad and Tobago and now a resident of the state
of Maryland in the US, Anderson Cupid began playing the
steelpan instrument at
the elementary school level and represented his school in
competition for the first time when he was just ten years
old.
At his secondary school, he
represented the school band as a soloist at the very first
school steelband music festival and gained top honors. Andy also functioned as captain of the school's
steel orchestra, which
dominated the country's national school panorama competition in the eighties.
In 1981, Andy joined the
Jewel 22 Steel Orchestra, playing at the 'senior' national level in
Trinidad for the first time. In 1982, he became a pivotal
member of the world renowned Trinidad All Stars Steel
Orchestra. As a member of the band for 25 years,
Andy was right there with Trinidad All Stars as they won many prestigious
awards and competitions.
Performing with Trinidad
All Stars allowed him to perfect his skills
and become the accomplished musician he is today. In 1990,
Andy traveled to the shores of England, where he lived and
taught the art of the instrument within the government school system,
conducted workshops at the commonwealth institute in London and
was the arranger for top British steel orchestra Metronomes.
From 1999-2004, Andy
performed on the cruise ship circuit with Commodore, Carnival and Holland
American cruise lines, mesmerizing many audiences with
versatile playing and a varied repertoire.
For the period 2004-2007 Andy lived in and
performed all over California in the USA, before moving to Maryland
where he now resides.
As a writer/composer he has
written songs for the likes of calypsonian Crazy “Save Ah
Soul”; Flo PG
“Dancing Time Again” and; Joel Aaron “Panslingers.”
Added to these now is his 2008 panorama
offering: "Bacchanal" performed by Brent Richardson.
Andy
has traveled to many places, showcasing the national
instrument of Trinidad and Tobago. Some of these places are
Florida, New Orleans, Texas, Canada, Great Britain, Germany,
Paris, Venezuela and all over the Caribbean, and remains an
in-demand music professional year-round.
Brent
Richardson
 Brent
Richardson was born in Trinidad. As a young man, Brent began
playing the steelpan in high school. His early influences
included jazz musicians such as Lionel Hampton and George
Benson as well as steelpan musicians such as Othello Molineaux, Len “Boogsie” Sharpe, Robert Greenidge and Ken
“Professor” Philmore. After becoming the high school bandleader, Brent went on to join one of the most prominent
steel orchestras in Trinidad and Tobago, Vat “19” Fonclaire Steel
Orchestra, with whom he performed for the first time abroad at
the Brooklyn Academy of Music in New York, and the Du Maurier
Jazz Festival in Toronto, Canada. He also recorded on Fonclaire Steel Orchestra's Pan Jazz album.
Brent then went on to join
the TCL Skiffle Bunch Steel Orchestra where he performed
throughout Europe and Asia. After returning from tour Brent
decided to form his own band, Pantastic International Steel
Band which performed in Japan and Walt Disney World in
Florida.
In 1996, Brent ventured into
the cruise line industry where he performed on various cruise
ships - (Carnival; Holland America and Princess Cruise
Lines). During this time period he developed his vocal
ability which puts him in the category of steelband
musicians who both play and sing.
Although influenced by jazz
music, Brent’s repertoire includes reggae, calypso, R&B, Caribbean
jazz, soca, bossa nova, etc. And Brent again blends his
instrumental and vocal talents on his performance of
Anderson Cupid's 2008 Panorama composition, “Bacchanal.”
Contact
Anderson Cupid:
a_cupid@hotmail.com
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