Mannette Talks Pan In Brooklyn - Revisted

[Pan Times]

Although he is widely credited with sinking the first pan, there has been an ongoing debate concerning his role in pioneering steelpan music. This debate is especially heated among supporters of the late, Winston “Spree” Simon, whom many Trinidadians sentimentally refer to as the “Father of Pan.”

When questioned about the issue, Mannette told a reporter that all of the early pioneers, including himself, brought innovations that were pivotal to the growth of the art-form. He said that he doesn’t see why they all can’t receive equal recognition. However, he humbly tipped his hat to Simon’s legacy.

“He [Spree] is the first man, as far I understand, to play a melody on one of the small pans,” said Mannette. “From that time on he started a trend that everybody followed, so that legacy will live forever.”

... Ellie Mannette

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[Andre-Roger Dellevi]

Dr. Mannette ~ Skatie

[Hameed Shaqq]

Will a Steelband Orchestra or a Steelpan Soloist even be invited to perform at the Nobel Peace Prize Awards in Stockholm? Evidently, the Physics Prize has been awarded for both pioneering discoveries and groundbreaking inventions, it is quite obvious that the inventors of the steel drum as a musical instrument met these criteria’s. However, no Nobel Prize recognition was ever given for this unique, modern, innovative and legendary musical instrument. The Steelpan musical instrument is the only musical invention which can perform as an orchestra assembles of instrumental voices independent of the widely acceptable traditional woodwind, strings assembles.