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“Oscar” Mark Roberts
is from the twin island
Republic of Trinidad
& Tobago (Trinidad to
be specific) W.I.
He has a love of music
from childhood, with
a preference for a mouth
organ as a choice of
Christmas gift every
year even as other 12-year-olds
wanted toy cars, trucks,
etc. Mark had
the ability to play
any Christmas Carol
he heard on the radio
on his mouth-organ.
In 1970 the legendary
Desperadoes Steel Orchestra
was the band Mark Roberts
joined, located as it
was within his community.
Five years later, he
and other Laventille
youths formed the band
Music Maker. His
affiliation with with
Desperadoes afforded
him the opportunity
to tour internationally
extensively.
Under the leadership
of the late great Rudolph
Charles and master arranger
- the late “Sir”
Clive Bradley, Mark
Roberts says he was
afforded informal but
extremely valuable music
education. His
musical journey continues
- as, he says, music
is a living thing. “Every
day is one of learning.”
He started composing
in 1991 with his first
publication being in
2006 with
Clive
Gone in honor
of Clive Bradley’s memory,
and vocalized by Brache.
Celebrating
Crawl sung by
Chucky and honoring
the memory Desperadoes’
legendary bass player
Frank “Crawl” Findley
followed in 2008.
For 2010 he not only
composed but also vocalized
Pow Pow Doi Doi (Bad
Boy); two years
later in 2012 he followed
up with
Who
Is Copeland.
In Panorama 2013 Mark
Roberts presented the
pan world with
Ralph; for the 2014
season, he returns once
more as both composer
and vocalist on the
track featured here,
Thanks
To WST, and
vocalizes and
co-composes on
Pan Scientist
(Tribute to Bertie).
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