Web Posted - January 30, 2021
When Steel Talks

Remembering the late great Cicely Tyson - (December 19, 1924 – January 28, 2021)

Cicely Tyson at the AFRICAN BURIAL GROUND

Global -
“I too, sing America
I am the darker brother
They send me to eat in the kitchen when company comes
But I laugh and eat well and grow strong

“Tomorrow, I'll be at the table when company comes
Nobody'll dare say to me, "Eat in the kitchen"

“Then, besides
They'll see how beautiful we are and be ashamed
I, too, am America ”

Writer: Langston Hughes

Web Posted - Saturday January 28, 2021
When Steel Talks

RIP - Veteran Calypsonian Singing Sandra (Sandra Des Vignes-Millington) has Passed

Global - When Steel Talks extends our sincere condolences to the family and friends of veteran calypsonian Singing Sandra (Sandra Des Vignes-Millington).

When Steel Talks

The Triple Second - Family of Steel Pan Instruments

Global - The Triple Second -- Invented by the late, great Rudolph Charles of Desperadoes Steel Orchestra.

Web Posted - Wednesday January 26, 2021
When Steel Talks Reboot - Feel the Music - Live the Experience

D’Radoes Steel Orchestra - “Spankin’” | Terrance “BJ” Marcelle | Brooklyn, NY Panorama 2014

Brooklyn, New York, USA - It’s the annual New York Panorama. D’Radoes Steel Orchestra is playing “Spankin’” written by “Super Blue” - (born Austin Lyons) and arranged by Terrance “BJ” Marcelle for Panorama 2014. This is will be the first New York Panorama win for D’Radoes and “BJ” Marcelle at this moment.

Web Posted - Sunday January 24, 2021
When Steel Talks Reboot - Feel the Music - Live the Experience

Desperadoes Steel Orchestra - “Musical Volcano” | Robert Greenidge | Trinidad & Tobago Panorama 1991

Trinidad & Tobago, W.I. - It’s Panorama Finals. Desperadoes Steel Orchestra is playing “Volcano” written and arranged by Robert Greenidge for Panorama 1991.

Web Posted - Saturday January 23, 2021
When Steel Talks

Len “Boogsie” Sharpe & Joshua Regrello team up on ‘Backyard Jam’ steelpan cover

Trinidad & Tobago, W.I. - Popular panist Joshua Regrello teamed up with living music legend Len “Boogsie” Sharpe to deliver a rousing steelpan cover of Farmer Nappy’s 2021 soca hit ‘Backyard Jam.’

Web Posted - Friday January 22, 2021
When Steel Talks

When You Waiting For Carnival To Come Back

Bernie Sanders feeling the "Bern"

Global - US Senator Bernie Sanders is feeling the cold and down spirits that Carnival attendees are feeling as COVID-19 restrictions cancel Carnivals all over the world.

Web Posted - Thursday January 21, 2021
When Steel Talks

A Look at ‘Voices of Pan Pioneers of Trinidad and Tobago’

Global - US-based Trinidadian broadcaster extraordinaire, Von Martin, has written a book - ‘Voices of Pan Pioneers of Trinidad and Tobago’ - about key people who contributed to the development of the steelpan. And, no two ways about it, this should be compulsory reading for anyone with a serious interest in the instrument and a solid sampling of some of the more important men and women associated with it over the years.

Web Posted - Wednesday January 20, 2021
When Steel Talks Reboot - Feel the Music - Live the Experience

Harmonites Steel Orchestra - “The Wrecker” | Trinidad & Tobago Panorama 1968

Trinidad & Tobago, W.I. - It’s Panorama Finals. Harmonites Steel Orchestra is playing “The Wrecker” written by “Lord Kitchener” - (born Aldwyn Roberts) and arranged by Earl Rodney for Panorama 1968.

Web Posted - Tuesday January 19, 2021
When Steel Talks Reboot - Feel the Music - Live the Experience

Exodus Steel Orchestra - “War 2004” | Trinidad & Tobago Panorama 2004

Trinidad & Tobago, W.I. - It’s Panorama Finals. Exodus Steel Orchestra is playing “War 2004” written by “The Original De Fosto Himself” and arranged by Pelham Goddard for Panorama 2004.

Web Posted - Monday January 18, 2021
When Steel Talks

Celebrating the life of Dr. Martin Luther King Jr.

Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. Day - 2021 -- St Luke's Steelband

Global - Over the last 10 years Music Haven and St. Luke's Steelband, have come together on this special day to recognize and highlight the important work done by Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. throughout the short time he spent with us.

Web Posted - Sunday January 17, 2021
When Steel Talks Reboot - Feel the Music - Live the Experience

Phase II Pan Groove - “This Feeling Nice” | Trinidad & Tobago Panorama 1987

Trinidad & Tobago, W.I. - It’s Panorama Finals. Phase II Pan Groove is playing “This Feeling Nice” written and arranged by Len “Boogsie” Sharpe for Panorama 1987.

Web Posted - Saturday January 16, 2021
When Steel Talks

Frankie McIntosh receives 2020 UWI Honorary Doctorate

Global - From Calypso to gospel and reggae, Franklyn McIntosh has worked his magic on music from every English-speaking Caribbean island. His work has been honoured with an induction into the Sunshine Awards Hall of Fame in New York (2015) and recognition by the Borough of Brooklyn, the City of New York and the United States Congress – House of Representatives. Dr. McIntosh has appeared on a stamp in his native St. Vincent and the Grenadines, and is a diplomat for his country.

Web Posted - Friday January 15, 2021
When Steel Talks Reboot - Feel the Music - Live the Experience

Trinidad All Stars Steel Orchestra - “Woman On The Bass” | Leon “Smooth” Edwards | Trinidad & Tobago Panorama 1980

Trinidad & Tobago, W.I. - It’s Panorama Finals. Trinidad All Stars Steel Orchestra is playing Scrunter’s “Woman On The Bass,” arranged by Leon “Smooth” Edwards for Panorama 1980.

Web Posted - Thursday January 14, 2021
When Steel Talks

Anthony “Benup” Kinsale - A Real Steelband Man

Global - Read on for a brief history, (Anthony “Benup” Kinsale) in his own words, of how he was instrumental in bringing an end to the steelband riots, how the former Vice-Captain of Desperadoes was a close ally of Charles and a community inspiration whose resilience created the Serenaders on the edge of the basketball court in St Barbs keeping Steelband alive on the hills...  -- Sharmain Baboolal

Web Posted - Tuesday January 12, 2021
When Steel Talks

Remembering Activist Panman Michael Leroy Joseph aka “Scobie”

by Gerry Kangalee

Trinidad & Tobago, W.I. - Michael Joseph, or “Scobie” as he is popularly called was the leader of the Southern Marines Steelband Foundation, one of the oldest bands in Trinidad. He was a former Central Executive member and Chairman of the South Central Region of Pan Trinbago.

Web Posted - Tuesday January 12, 2021
When Steel Talks Reboot - Feel the Music - Live the Experience

Nutones Steel Orchestra - “High Mass” | Clive Bradley | Trinidad & Tobago Panorama 1998

Trinidad & Tobago, W.I. - It’s Panorama Finals. Nutones Steel Orchestra is playing David Rudder’s “High Mas,” arranged by Clive Bradley for Panorama 1998.

Web Posted - Tuesday January 12, 2021
When Steel Talks

Len “Boogsie” Sharpe receives 2020 UWI Honorary Doctorate

Global - Len Sharpe, better known as Len “Boogsie” Sharpe is a very successful & popular player, arranger and composer of steelpan music from Trinidad and Tobago. As a soloist extraordinaire or as part of a group, he has amazed audiences in North America, Europe & Asia.

Web Posted - Sunday January 10, 2021
When Steel Talks Reboot - Feel the Music - Live the Experience

ADLIB Steel Orchestra - “What’s Going On” | André White | Brooklyn, New York, USA

Brooklyn, New York, USA - ADLIB Steel Orchestra performs the classic “What’s Going On” by Marvin Gaye.

Web Posted - Sunday January 10, 2021
Trinidad and Tobago Newsday

Carnival tabanca as COVID-19 closes festival

Trinidad & Tobago, W.I.  - ....There will be no Carnival 2021. No physical events such as fetes, stick-fighting, ole mas, Dimanche Gras, J'Ouvert, parade of the bands, and Panorama.

The annual event has been cancelled this year as a consequence of the COVID-19 pandemic.

....Sunday Newsday caught up with members of the Desperadoes Steel Orchestra at their base on Tragarete Road in Port of Spain on Tuesday. A group of men sat under a tree in the panyard as they listened to the band on the radio and exchanged memories of Carnivals past.

Former trustee Glenford “House” Wallace said it was a sad moment for all its members, but they understood the need for the cancellation.

He said, “Playing pan at this time of the year was always something we looked forward to. People feel like a piece of their heart has been taken away.

“Some of us just come to the panyard, like today, and reminisce about what was and what this year could have been like. They bring a pan and knock a little thing.”

Desperadoes, last year’s Panorama winner, has 12 titles in the large band category.

Web Posted - Saturday January 9, 2021
When Steel Talks - Feel the Music - Live the Experience

Angel Harps Steel Orchestra of Grenada | “Brighter Out of Darkness”

Grenada, W.I. - In 1972 Angel Harps record their first album titled “Brighter Out of Darkness” at CBC Barbados, and released it in 1973. The album's producer is inspector James Clarkeson.

Listen to audio

Web Posted - Saturday January 9, 2021
When Steel Talks

Condolences to Panist Curtis Lynch

Global - When Steel Talks extends our sincere condolences to the family and friends of panist Curtis Lynch on the passing of his father.  Curtis is the captain of CASYM Steel Orchestra.

Web Posted - Friday January 8, 2021
When Steel Talks

Condolences to Panist Garvin Blake on the passing of his Mother

Global - When Steel Talks extends our sincere condolences to the family and friends of panist, performing artist and arranger Garvin Blake on the passing of his Mother.

Web Posted - Thursday January 7, 2021
When Steel Talks Reboot - Feel the Music - Live the Experience

Renegades Steel Orchestra - “Pan Explosion” | Jit Samaroo | Trinidad & Tobago Panorama 1982

Trinidad & Tobago - Amoco Renegades Steel Orchestra is playing Kitchener’s “Pan Explosion,” arranged by Jit Samaroo for Panorama 1982.

Web Posted - Thursday January 7, 2021
When Steel Talks Reboot

Dr. Jit Samaroo

Champion Arranger - Renegades Steel Orchestra

Global - Jit has also arranged for several other steelbands both at home in Trinidad and Tobago and abroad. He was awarded the Hummingbird Medal of Merit (silver) in 1987, as well as the Chaconia Medal (silver) in 1995. In 2003, he received an honorary Doctor of Letters from The University of the West Indies for his musical accomplishments.

Web Posted - Wednesday January 6, 2021
When Steel Talks

Echoes That Haunt Panyards

by Wesley Gibbings

Global - ....The year 2020 came to test pan, both as a musical instrument and as an agent of social cohesion and change, in ways not previously experienced or envisaged. Even in its manifestation as the best thing we do, tougher challenges would have been extremely hard to find.

A determined pandemic barely missed Panorama 2020, but its careful management has ensured that in 2021, the practice of pan will comprise invention and ingenuity – qualities that have given the instrument its true value both as creative platform and as largely unrealised economic prospect.

Web Posted - Tuesday January 5, 2021
When Steel Talks Reboot

Giant of the Titans

by When Steel Talks

Global - There was a cosmic shift in the world steelband music force and every person who has ever been remotely involved in steelband music felt it - such was the greatness and importance of Dr. Jit Samaroo.

Web Posted - Tuesday January 5, 2021
When Steel Talks

Remembering Albert “Doggie” Cox - Grenada steelpan icon

by Zavid Seales

Grenada - ....Albert “Doggie” Cox came back to play with Angel Harps and was a member of the Double Second section of the steel orchestra for many years at Panorama. His last major performance with Angel Harps Steel Orchestra was at the World Steelband Festival in Trinidad in 2000. It was soon after that he migrated to the USA.

Web Posted - Monday January 4, 2021
When Steel Talks

Congratulations to Joshua Regrello - Panist  (PRANK!)

Global - When Steel Talks extends congratulations to Joshua Regrello captain of Skiffle Steel Orchestra.

Web Posted - Sunday January 3, 2021
When Steel Talks Reboot

Jit - The One And Only

by Dalton Narine

Global - Just a single name encapsulates this slight man, what he became and the huge legacy he left pan and country.

Imagine a shy East Indian panman/arranger from Surrey, Lopinot, not your ordinary panist at all, being called upon by Renegades, a steelband from round the bridge, to arrange its music. Particularly Panorama fare.

This is a man who went on to win nine Panorama titles in 16 years. To understand the relevance of that milestone, Desperadoes celebrated 10 Panorama wins among three arrangers. If anybody in the world of Panoramania understood the depth of one’s respect for his peers, it is the triumvirate crew of Beverly Griffith, Robert Greenidge and Clive Bradley.

Web Posted - Sunday January 3, 2021
When Steel Talks Reboot

The Samaroo Jets ‘Live’ at the Trinidad Hilton Hotel

Trinidad & Tobago, W.I. - The year is 1978, and the Samaroo Jets led by Jit Samaroo, (one of the legends in the steelpan art form) are performing poolside at the Trinidad Hilton. The versatility of the group is on full display in these recordings as they perform the classical, pop and calypso pieces of the day.”

Listen

Web Posted - Saturday January 2, 2021
When Steel Talks

We must support the truly talented...

Global - Support for the creative, performing arts and culture is as critical as a heart attack.

Web Posted - Friday January 1, 2021
When Steel Talks

Happy New Year 2021 & Cheers To Life

Global - When Steel Talks extends New Year's greetings to all.

Steelpan Music Headlines

When Steel Talks breaking stories

Global - Important stories from all over the world.
Read, Watch and Listen