Trinidad All Stars
Global - From the 1930’s under the leadership of people like “Sagiator” Drayton to Eric Stowe, “Big-Head” Hamilton Thomas, Prince Batson and Neville Jules, the great Trinidad All Stars has remained firmly committed to the Carnival Arts. This band from Hell Yard could not do otherwise, it is their CORE VALUE, their raison d’etre, the reason to be.
The following is a quotation from their hopefully soon-to-be-published History Book titled, ‘Men, Mettle & Metal – the Birth of Steel-Drum Music and the History of Trinidad All Stars Steel Orchestra’, “The lesson to be learnt is that Panorama should not be the ‘be-all and end-all’ for steelbands that are serious about the Carnival tradition and their institutional presence therein; furthermore, that the commitment to this tradition and to such a presence during Carnival pays off at the end of the day.”
“All Stars has gained tremendously from such a commitment; every year collecting prize monies both for playing music and masquerading at the various judging points while other steelbands simply fold up after Panorama and J’Ouvert until the following year. All Stars has over the years reaped a financial bonanza as a result and has been placed on a sound financial footing that is unmatched by any other steelband…
Beresford Hunte, the present Captain is never tired of saying to reporters that “All Stars is not a Panorama band, All Stars is more than that, much more…” In 2012, All Stars placed 6th in the Band of the Year competition, in 2013, the band was placed 3rd, now in 2014, it is the Band of the Year. It was not a fluke, not a surprise to anyone following the trajectory.
The section leaders must be commended for their efforts and, most of all, tribute must be extended to the section of young Drum-Majorettes who performed at the front of the band on both days; amongst them were the grand-children and great grand-children of ‘Big-Head’ Hamilton Thomas namely Ms Lorraine Lamont, Mallorey-Marie Elizabeth Lamont and Alexxandria-Maria Shaniah Lamont – the fourth generation of Sailors from Hell Yard. All praises!
Bukka Rennie.
Leave a comment in the WST forum