‘How Can The Bands Improve?’

Gene Toney:

Gene is one of Trinidad and Tobago’s foremost dancers, a choreographer, and troupe leader. He got involved in dancing around the time of the twin island state’s achievement of political independence from Great Britain in 1962. With the advent of the Prime Minister’s Best Village Competition in the ’60s, the Harding Place Cocorite Youth Movement was formed, and Gene embedded himself in its artistic life, particularly dance, under the leadership of the now-deceased Carlton Francis.

Through this activity, he became acquainted with some of Trinidad’s leading dancers such as: Jean Coggins, Julia Edwards, and Neville Shepherd with whom Gene performed and toured before forming his own troupe, the Ujamaa Folk Performers in 1972. Under the guidance of Gene, Ujamaa toured the Caribbean, the United States, Canada, Venezuela, and other places, performing numerous Caribbean dances including the Bele, Pique, Joropo, and the Limbo. Ujamaa has won the national limbo competition on multiple occasions.

In recent years Gene, together with his wife, Rosanna Toney, has taken his talents to Brooklyn New York, and assisted in the transmission of the knowledge and performance of these Caribbean dance forms among the youth, particularly those of Caribbean parentage. He has worked in the youth programs of the Sesame Flyers organization, helping to develop their dance troupe and artistic programs in general. He continues to share his cultural gifts by participation in the steelband movement, mas’ making and performance, and calypso singing.

Stephen Reid:

Born in South East London, Steve Reid (pictured with wife Bernadette above) has been involved in Pan, both as a player and as a band director for more than twenty-two years.

It was after attending the Notting Hill Carnival at the age of nine that he wanted to join a Steel Band; in 1989, that dream became a reality when he joined Calvary Steel Orchestra and two years later, became its director.

Steve has also collaborated with Ray Holman and David ‘Happy’ Williams on a total of six compositions, which have yet to be heard; the songs range from gospelypso, to praise and worship to contemporary pop styles.

Steve extends special thanks to Ray Holman and Winsford Devine for their help with How Can The Bands Improve? - the track featured here.