The Reality of life and the sting of Death has hit the steelpan fraternity, two of our Icons in the same week passed. the Legendary Herman Guppy Brown and ace Musician and arranger Rafael Raf Robertson my deepest condolences to the Families and may they both Rest In Peace
I personally did not have a personal friendship with either of these gentlemen but held great respect for their names. like the names that proceed the great ones who have lived and contributed to the art form of our beloved twin Island and now the whole world has embraced
However we walk a thin line when coming to preservation of these local Geniuses and their special gift that God Gave them to share with us. we can go from Bertie Marshall to Clive Bradley Rudolph Charles to Ralph MacDonald Lincoln Noel to Eddie Qualis and we could go on and on and the question is ask who did they leave their knowledge with who was their protege who did they Mentor? I'm just asking a question and not trying to disrespect these sleeping Giants
I pray that the late Mr Guppy Brown had students that he mentored before leaving us. the late Scipio Sargeant was a perfect example you can see his teachings in students like Kareem Thompson and Ricardo Jerome he left us wanting to give more but his time ran out due to a terminal illness. we even see Mr Ellie Mannette doing a great work in Virginia with his Institute. Training U.S based students who are doing real nice work. Trinidad & Tobago where is our next Clive Bradley where is our next Guppy Brown where is our next Bertie Marshall our next great leader and inventor like Rudolph Charles. My Brothers and Sister we must start now and do it together without borderlining our band and our players. We are thankful for the young Duvone Stewart and the Amrit Samaroo and all the young Arrangers we are seeing emerging out our Bands and learning institutes around the world we are thankful for Boogsie, Robbie, Smoothe, Pelham,Phillmore, and all the Panorama Generals that are still blessing us with their Music but please note we all have an expiration date written in time. and if we keep loosing great Musicians Tuners Innovators without preserving their Knowledge the Name land of steelpan and Calypso may be in Danger
We should not expect Pan Trinbago and the Trinidad and Tobago Government to do everything it starts within our Hearts to pass on our knowledge to the next Generation and support every SteelPan Musician, Tuners and organizations without borderlining our community and our Bands let's start leaving Legacies and not Names because names are subject to be forgotten but Legacies lives forever,,,, so to all the sleeping Generals thank you for your Time on this Earth and may your Legacy live on and on in the Hearts of our Children of Tomorrow as we carry the Torch into the next Century
God Bless our Culture
Sterling C Sample: steeldrumstrainingcenter.com
Replies
My sentiments exactly. Thank you Sterling for a well written comment, and I hope that those great ones who are still with us will take heed. Dmato
Outside of the big names, we can add the name Lennox san Fortune, who was laid to rest on Wednesday. An unsound hero, who would live in the minds and hearts of many in the greater San Fernando area, especially the young people of Hatters Steel and San City steel.He was Teacher, Arranger, Councilor, Pan maker and Tuner amongst other things. He touched more lives than many would believe.
The message in this is, the Steelpan fraternity is in transition mode, so the young people must be prepared and properly trained to fill the void, or we can loose this. All the sacrifice and struggle of the ancestors could be in vain.
Nice Passage, Sterling!!!!
Guppy Brown passed on a lot of his knowledge to Mr. Gerard Clarke from STARLIFT.
And Raf Roberston turned his son into a WORLD CLASS MUSICIAN.
So THE BEAT GOES ON!!!