A Not So Brief History Of The United States Navy Steel Band
 

Global - I have been asked by When Steel Talks to write a history of the Navy Steel Band during my tenure as the Leader.

Duty with the Navy Steel Band was a very unique opportunity, there was no other US Military Band like it, and probably no other military steel band anywhere (expect possibly in the Caribbean). To me this was one of my favorite tours of duty.

In my Navy career I went on to several other bands serving as leader, but the Navy Steel Band was my first band as leader and the most demanding and exciting!


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  • I was in North Stars from 1958, thru 1962  and beyone that, when in 1962 we played at the base in Chagaramas, and I know for a fact that Anthony Williams never sold, or made pans for anyone other than North Stars, where later I became his assisntant tuner in 1963, but we did "GIVE" some of our old pans to a band in Mayaro in 1964, where "skip" Anthony Williams, sent myself and my assistant at the time Robert "bullett" Thwaites to Mayaro to arrange some songs for them, as to get them accustom with the "spider web" or 4ths & 5ths order of notes, prior to that "NO", I don't know what b/s this guy "Skip Poole" is implying therefore, I reiterate, "skip" never sold nor did anyone buy any of our pans, and as Anthony "skip" Williams always use to say, "CAN' T SELL GUNS TO THE INDIANS...

    • So, did you play at the same show as the US Navy Steel Band in 1962? What was that like? Also, the US Navy Steel Band used several different tuner/builder to make lead pans for them (not just Ellie Mannette) and often favored pans made by members of Brute Force in Antigua. Its possible that they bought a used lead pan or two from Anthony Williams. In fact, Mr. Williams himself told me that he made pans for the US Navy Steel Band when I met him at NALIS in downtown POS in 2008.  

  • Andy Martin are you out there?

    • Yes, I am here and have mountains of information for anyone intersted in the US Navy Steel Band (I'm writing a book on the group).

  • Check out the Vid " 18 on Steel " on WST and YouTube for a performance of Navy Steel in concert with Invaders and Sundowners Steel Orchs at the US Army Base in Chagaramas , Trinidad .

  • "When Steel Talks, Everybody Listens" is such a truism, from PAN's inception to the present and beyond...

    A very interesting piece. Thanks WST.

  • This is nice... Is the U.S Navy Steel Band presently still in operation?

    • Unfortunately, due to fiscal constraints the Navy Steel Band was terminated I believe some time in the late 90's
      Somewhere I have the exact date, but it seems to be hiding from me at the moment.  Perhaps other Navy Steel Band members tht belong to WST can supply a more precise answer.
      F.Y.I.  In browsing through several websites and blogs I have discovered tht at least one more album was recorded, Steel Appeal.'  I don't know when or where, but it has been mentioned by several sources.
      • Pity.

        Given the terse times we are living in and the current global military deployment, it would have been good if a US Navy Steel orchestra, and a full fledged one this time around, was still in operation.  Imagine a full steelband concert of a hundred or more players, on the decks of a naval carrier wowing a selection of international leaders... after a stressful round of negotiatons or the like.

        With the size of a carrier, "space" would not be an issue with some Carnegie Melon movable stands for larger instruments, and the normal collapsibles that are now part of the course.

        • When I first read your comment, I thought, 'No, I don't think so...'
          But on second read, I have to agree that this would be an excellent idea...you are indeed on to something here.
          The slogan or motto of the Armed Forces School of Music is "Music-The Universal Language."
          What wouold be more approriate than to use this "Universal Language" to ease some of the tensions throughout the world?
          Great comment "MakeItPlain"!
          (AND- there is nothing on the planet that grabs your attention like a large [100 players or more] Steel Orchestra.  You just don't hear the sound, it overwhelms you and penatrates every pore of your body.)
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