Trinidad All Stars
Steel Orchestra

The rich and colourful history of the steelband movement in Trinidad and Tobago is interwoven with the Neal & Massy Trinidad All Stars. Developed between the First & Second World Wars, the steelband was born of an innate and explosive creativity.

The band’s roots go deep and its turbulent early beginnings and explosive creativity is the hallmark of steelband music today.

“Hell Yard Boys” was the name they gave themselves back in 1935. Hell Yard was a poor area on the banks of the East Dry River in Port of Spain. The movement away from “tamboo-bamboo” to pan had only just begun. This name changed several times – to “Second Fiddle”, then to “Cross of Lorraine”, and finally “All Stars”, chosen because of the perceived superior ability of the players. Soon after the war, “Trinidad” was added.

In 1982 the contributions of Trinidad All Stars to the steelband movement were recognised by the Government of Trinidad & Tobago with the presentation of a national award – the Humming Bird Medal (Gold). Four years later, the band was again honoured with an award from the Port of Spain City Council.

One of the many achievements of the band was its pioneering of classical music on the road, played to the rhythm of calypso. This highlighted the capacity of the steelpan to go beyond the previously self-imposed musical bounds of calypso or boleros. Trinidad All Stars was the first band to play the pan with two sticks. For the first time, both the melody and the harmony could be heard played together. The band made the first “Quatro Pans” later called the grundig and the guitar pans. A former captain of Trinidad All Stars, Neville Jules, also had the privilege of making the first bass pan.

Our accomplished musicians have maintained a standard of excellence through their innovative mastery of the instruments. They have secured first place victories in the biennial Music Festival on six occasions, have won the National Panorama five times, the Bomb Competition on countless occasions and successfully held nine Classical Jewels concerts.

The members of Trinidad All Stars Steel Orchestra have carried the vibrant culture of Trinidad & Tobago around the world: Australia, Barbados, Bermuda, Canada, China, France, Ghana, Guyana, India, Jamaica, Nigeria, Puerto Rico, Scotland, St. Maarten, the United Kingdom and the United States.

The LOGO

The logo of the Neal & Massy Trinidad All Stars, launched in 2006 is a representation of the many facets of the Institution.

1. Black Background – the black background represents the rich fertile earth from which the Trinidad All Stars was born
   
   
2.  One Gold Star – one Gold Star represents the fact that many individual stars come together to form one great Star; its juxtaposition against the black background forms the image of notes on a pan symbolizing the inseparability of pan and All Stars; All Stars is pan, pan is All Stars
   
   
3.  Dancing sailor – the sailor is a tribute to the sailor heritage of All Stars. Note that the sailor is dancing to the music of the band
   
   
4.  Musical banner – the musical banner being waved by the sailor and wrapped around the star, is filled with musical notes, symbolizing the rich musicality of the band in everything it does
   
   
5. Spotlight – the spotlight under the sailor symbolizes the showmanship of All Stars; whenever All Stars plays, they play in the spotlight  

Trinidad All Stars web site

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Trinidad All Stars in Pictures

Address: 46-48 Duke Street, Port of Spain, Trinidad and Tobago, W.I.
Telephone: (868) 627-2127
Email: admin@trinidadallstars.org  or themanager@trinidadallstars.org

Champion Years - 1973, 1980, 1981, 1986, 2002, 2007, 2011, 2012, 2015, 2017