Global - In an exclusive interview with When Steel Talks - musician, writer, activist, panist - George D. Goddard, shares his overall views on Pan, Panorama and his father George "Sonny" Goddard one of the most important figures in the history of pan...
“Panorama is a scapegoat; one that has no voice, and as such cannot defend itself. Is the World Cup (also a competition) “a curse or a blessing” to football? Is the Kentucky Derby ”killing” horse racing? To me, that’s just smoke-screens, and like Ninjas in the dark, those who are really killing pan, go undetected..” ...George D. Goddard"
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Great interview George ...would expect nothing less ... I do agree that more emphasis has to be placed on the historical aspects of the Pan in post secondary education and most certainly books like your Dad's "Forty Years In The Steelband 1939-1979" and others should be the main focus of study.
Salah
Greetings In Kenya when it was Harambee time (Harvest time) They celebrated the reaping of the fruitful season in the same way. It was a fete on the streets with bottles, cans etc ( the Autobiography of Harry Thuku). Guidance Dr. Lance Seunarine
The question begs to remain: Why haven't When Steel Talks sought out an interview from the resident "Wolf in Shepherd's Clothing", Steve "SIDD" Taylor? Why aren't they seeking out his "wisdom"? SHORT ANSWER: Because they KNOW he's a QUACK! WST seeks out the interviews of ONLY the SANE and RELEVANT; he is NEITHER!!!
Ghost Who Knows An Envious, Deceitful, Insignificant Degenerate When He Comes Across One.
BTW - Did you all know he also brought my family into it; posting a photo of my wife, after he pretended to be my Facebook friend? That's how I found out his name: Steve Taylor. What would you do, if someone brought your wife and kids into an argument they were NO part of? He REALLY lucky I'm not on drugs...Friggin' disrespectful, low-life, lonely bastard!
My Bredren I missed this posting; this a heart warming and refreshing review of one of the most talented advocate of pan.. Hope you get to teach the seminars. Guidance Dr. Lance Seunarine
Doc, you know your support means SO MUCH to me. (Oh, the VALUE of an "education"!)
Ghost.
George nuff respect and plenty respect to your dad. He is the only pan historian I have any respect for. The others have axes to grind from the old days. I want to correct one error tho. Alexanders Ragtime Band was NOT a steel band and it was NOT the first steelband. It was a Bamboo Tamboo band. Some disgruntled youths broke away from ARB in 1936 and formed Oval Boys a mix of Bamboo Tamboo and Iron (literally the first iron band)on Picton St then the Mannette brothers (Ossie, Ellie and Birdie) broke away in 1937 and formed MIdnight Invaders at 147 Tragarete Rd. Invaders is still there. This is where the FIRST real playable instrument called the ping pong was invented by Ellie That led to the REAL Tenor pan (55 gallon drum) Thanks and ciao Paddy Corea musician.
Paddy, thanks for the correction and information. I would really like to set up an interview with you, sometime in the near future. Thanks again, for your kind, truthful words. We'll keep in touch.
Follow up: Paddy, I just researched and found that your information may not be accurate. The Newtown Tanboo Bamboo Band became Alexander's Ragtime band when they came out with an all-steel band, and that new name did not exist until the introduction of "steel" instruments. Though they may disagree on dates, the most reliable sources (the Roaring Lion, Lennox Pierre, Dr. J. D. Elder, Pete Simon, George "Sonny" Goddard, the local newspaper reports and atricles, and, even Ellie Mannette, himself) support that position. In an interview, conducted by Andy Narrell, Ellie stated that, "The person I really know to have started this art-form is...Alexander Forde...they call him "Humbugger"". In yet another interview, Ellie admits that he (himself) is "an off-spring from Alexander's Ragtime..." Then, he goes on to state that:
"I remember clearly...(we) had no skin drums to parade with...Alexander Forde went around...gathering gardabe cans...(and)brought out a band of entire STEEL-garbage can tops,grease barrels, biscuit drums, paint tins...ALEXANDER'S RAGTIME BAND...So the next year, everybody came out with steel...In 1937, I started gathering garbage cans myself. We called ourselves Oval Boys..."
According to Ellie's own words, the label "steelband", preceded the Ellie's departure from Alexander's Ragtime, and the formation of Oval Boys. But again, the name, Alexander's Ragtime Band, coincided with the change from bamboo to steel. The improved pans did not generate the name "steel band", it was in fact the rustic, "noise-making" instruments of "garbage can tops,grease barrels, biscuit drums, paint tins..."
NOTE: George also eventually left Alexander's Ragtime and joined Ellie Mannette and Oval Boys. Hope this helps.
Thank you WST for this informative interview.
I personally want to thank Mr Goddard for putting important issues of Pan in the spotlight, especially on the responsibility for the Government duty of declaring the Steelpan our National instrument by an Act of Parliment and assigning Steelpan Players with the Consulates. The Steelpan is the world's only non-traditional orchestra instruments.
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