BpTT and Renegades ‘renew vows’By JOAN RAMPERSAD Saturday, July 3 2010
IT WAS billed as a “Renewal of Vows” and marked the 40th Anniversary of the bpTT/Renegades Steel Orchestra partnership. Chairman and CEO of bpTT, Robert Riley signed a certificate of commitment to the steelband at a ceremony at the Trinidad Hilton and Conference Centre on Wednesday evening.
He told the gathering: “It is an honour for me personally to be participating as Chief Executive Officer of BP Trinidad and Tobago at this significant event in the history of the relationship between our company and the eminent and renowned Renegades Steel Orchestra. And it is with great pride that I will soon put pen to paper to sign a document symbolising our continued commitment to the Renegades as its principal sponsor on this the 40th anniversary of our enduring relationship.”
Riley recalled the beginning of the “marriage” in 1970, some 18 months before Amoco, as they was then called, even produced their first barrel of oil. He said with Jit Samaroo as the band’s musical arranger, Bertram Kellman as the sole tuner and the oil company’s sponsorship they have good reason to believe is the longest sustained relationship between any steel band with its arranger, pan tuner and sponsor in the history of pan.
“This consistent four-way relationship remained intact for some 36 consecutive years until the retirement of Jit Samaroo as the band’s musical arranger in 2007. And even though the relationship with Dr. Samaroo has changed, he continues on contract as the band’s musical director emeritus,” Riley added.
He said his company’s association with Renegades has been a highly rewarding experience: “Rewarding in that it has allowed us as an international business corporation to make a contribution to the growth and development of one of the most distinctive elements of the culture of Trinidad and Tobago – the steel pan.
“Rewarding, because it has given us the opportunity to make a positive difference in the lives, livelihood, and welfare of hundreds of ambitious young men and women in this country as a whole and in the suburbs of East Port of Spain.
“Rewarding also, because through our involvement with this steel orchestra we have been able to showcase the musical talent of this country to the rest of world in places like the Caribbean, Canada, the United States, England, Europe (Germany, Slovenia, Romania, Bulgaria, Yugoslavia, Belgium, Holland, Sweden, Spain, Italy, Portugal, and France), Africa, South America (Argentina, Brazil, Venezuela), the Middle Eastern countries (Tunisia, Morocco, Jordan, Gabon), Japan, China, Taiwan, La Reunion Island, Hong Kong, New Caledonia India, Australia, and many other countries and international centres.”
However Riley had one peeve... “Since I became the Chief Executive Officer of this company they have not given me the pleasure and experience of a Panorama win. And while pan is not just about winning Panoramas, it is my fervent hope that in this new dispensation they will give me this pleasure.”
Prior to Riley’s presentation, president of bp Renegades, Michael Marcano, highlighted the band’s extensive list of achievements, from its historical beginnings in 1948 to the present. These included the band’s domination of the National Panorama Competition in the 1980s and 1990s with nine victories between 1982 and 1997, including a hatrick between 1995 and 1997. They were the Pan in the 21st Century winners in 2003 with their rendition of Joey Lewis’ “Pint of Wine”. In addition, the band’s overseas performances earned them a reputation as the most acclaimed and perhaps highest profiled cultural ambassador of Trinidad and Tobago and of steel band music.
Some of Renegades’ outstanding overseas performances include accompanying French pop composer and multi-media performer, Jean-Michel Jarre at Paris Bastille Day celebrations was attended by an estimated world record audience of over two million people; playing with the Kodo Drummers of Japan at the Earth Celebration on Sado Island; playing with the Kangsadan Orchestra of Thailand; performing at the 18th Commonwealth Games in Sydney and the Womad Festival in Adelaide; and performing at the Folle Journee Festival in France.
The Renegades Youth Orchestra has had many successes, including winning the National Junior Panorama title on six occasions and placing second in 2005, 2006, and 2007.
The band has toured France, Italy, Germany, Norway, and Venezuela, and in 2003, formed part of Trinidad and Tobago’s contingent to the Caribbean Festival of Arts (Carifesta) in Suriname.
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