Roger Greenidge

Roger was born in Trinidad and Tobago, the country that invented the Steel Pan. Fans of Jimmy Buffett may recognize his last name since his brother Robert, his mentor who started him playing at age seven, is a member of the Coral Reefer Band. In fact, Roger has filled in at a number of Buffett concerts over the years.

He joined the internationally-acclaimed Desperadoes Steel Orchestra in 1982, leading to performances at Carnegie Hall and the Apollo Theatre as well as appearances with Nancy Wilson, Liza Minnelli, Aretha Franklin, Third World and Harry Belafonte. He has opened for The Beach Boys with Caiso Steel Drum, performed with the late Ralph MacDonald at the Lincoln Center in New York City, played with the New York Pops Orchestra, appeared at Madison Square Garden, recorded with rapper NAS, and played the National Anthem for a Washington Wizards basketball game at Verizon Center.

He tours as a freelance musician, but his longest and permanent role for the past twenty-eight-plus years, is the Musical Director of the East of the River Steelband in Washington DC which has brought him great satisfaction teaching young minds this extraordinary instrument of which he is a master.  Roger also works with Pan Masters Steel Orchestra of Washington DC.
 
As arranger, he took Philadelphia (Philly) Pan Stars Steel Orchestra to the annual New York Panorama competition in 2024, leading the band to third place.
 
Roger is always delighted to share his gift and spread a bit of the  Caribbean’s spice and warmth to all.