Pan History - Looking back at the year 1940 - 1949 in Pan

[When Steel Talks]

1940 - 1949

1940	Experimentation period begins Roaring Lion - first calypso ever composed for the steelband Alexander Ragtime Band Brute Force (Antigua) - first band to use rubber on sticks to play bass Hollywood influence on band names (violence, force, terror, heroes & movies) Hell Yard >> “All Stars” Merry Boys >> “Casablanca” Laventille Boys >> “Desperadoes” River Lady >> “Destination Tokyo” Age of the “Badjohn”
1941	Invaders Steel Orchestra formed by Ellie Mannette
1942	Pat Bishop was born 7 May 1942, in Port of Spain, Trinidad
1943	Lennox "Bobby" Mohammed was born in 1943 and grew up in San Fernando.
1944	Ray Holman was born on April 22, 1944 in Woodbrook, Port-of-Spain, Trinidad Reynold Gillies known throughout the steelpan world as "Tony Slater" hailed from Port of Spain, Trinidad
1945	V.E. day (May) Hells Gate formed in Antigua click to read  more Tenor kettle (5 notes), ping pong, cuff boom, dudup (bass kettle) appear in the bands of revelers Developments (1945-1950) sweet-oil drums (ping pong) sunk in convex fashion 5 to 7 notes drums held in one hand, rubberless stick in other oil drum sunk in concave fashion 15 notes with rubber-tipped sticks competitions begin in Port of Spain & San Fernando notes continue to be added to drums/instruments
1946	September 15, 1946, Carlton Roach won the first soloist competition which was sponsored by Mr. Renee Phillip of Belmont, Port-of-Spain.
1947	Red Army from Trinidad is the first steel band to visit British Guiana
1948	Guyana's first local Steel band competition was staged at the Georgetown Cricket Club. Three bands Casablanca, Tripoli and St. James Suffers, competed.
1949	Antigua Steelband Association formed - 8 members “The Steelband Herald” published as its official paper “....steelbandsmen attained a standard of performance which equals if not surpasses that of the best there is in Trinidad....”, Sunday Guardian, January 26, 1951, p.17 - in commentary on Antiguan panmanship Antigua’s “Brute Force” steelband gets picture in “The Times Survey of the Colonies” Antigua’s Hells Gate is planned to represent West Indian steelbands in Festival of Britain Antigua’s Hells Gate wins Panorama with tune “Peanut Vendor.” see more St. Vincent and the Grenadines holds its first ever steelband competition. Saint Vincent and the Grenadines Caribbean Boys and Syncopaters tie for first place.  read more Rudy King introduces Pan to America. Rudy King, aka 'Rock' and 'Rudolph Carter' - (to those who knew him as a young boy/man in his native Trinidad) came to America, bringing with him the knowledge of manufacturing and playing the instrument now known worldwide as the Steelpan; click for more See complete Pan History Timeline