March is the month that has been dedicated to the celebration of women globally. And in this regard, When Steel Talks revisits our annual celebration of “Women in Pan” all over the world. This year we will not only focus on the women behind the instrument, but also those women who silently, but quite strongly are the glue that keeps the steelpan fraternity together and alive. Angela Fox of Pan Trinbago and Barbara Mason, Steel Band Coordinator in the Cultural Development Division in Antigua and Barbuda are just two such women who silently behind the scenes, contribute mightily to the forward motion of the art form. When Steel Talks salutes all the steelpan-related women for always being there and in appreciation of your efforts.
When Steel Talks
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The passing of Dr. Pat Bishop is indeed a blow and a tragic loss to the Pan Movement and the Cultural landscape of Trinidad and Tobago the wider Caribbean indeed the world! Those of us who have had the great opportunity to witness and experience her genius would have had a taste of heaven here on earth. To watch her unleash her skills be it composing directing a pan orchestra or a choir was sheer magic!! Her story should and must be told to coming generations!! May she rest in peace and I know that she is is in heaven directing a Pan Side of Angels!!
I am presently assisting with promoting the steel pan in the Lancaster PA region of Pennsylvania. I would be producing a Steel Pan workshop for the Lanacaster Public Library, during the summer of 2009. I would like to get intouch with Dr Pat Bishop to assist with this project. we do need to have some books andf a sample pan sent in for display purposes we hope to have about 120 children at this workshop which would be done over two weeks.
i can be contacted vai my email address my name is Claudius Phillips--coboz2k6@yahoo.com.
Any help you can give in this regard would be welcomed.
What about the "worless" places like Port-of-Spain, Fyzabad; Point Fortin; San Fernando; and other parts of Trinidad who supported family initiated bands and their daughters played.
I also saw a contribution by a Phd student.
But the major unheralded contributions were made in significant ways by persons/women and men without the access to academia or governmental positions. They work and have worked on the groung in bands and training youth.
They are some of the ones who sustain and do not sell out.
Buzz Johnson: buzztobago@yahoo.co.uk; kariapress@yahoo.co.uk
Memories and Current Thoughts Related to Women
in the Steelpan World
by the late Clive Bradley, Arranger
Bradley reminisced about the early days of women in pan:
“The first time that I remember seeing women play Steelpan was around 1968, somewhere around there - when three women joined Desperadoes; one of them was Ursula, on the tenor pan, and she still plays with the band today. The other, Carol, played tenor pan too, and the third, whose name I can’t recall right now, played the Bass. It was a sort of status symbol for those guys because there were not too many bands with women playing. They were good players. As a matter of fact, I believe that Scrunter (Owen Reyes Johnson) wrote Woman On the Bass for particularly that girl.
In 2005, legendary producer, artist and master steelband music arranger Clive Bradley, shared with WST his personal thoughts and memories on Women In Pan in a special interview for Women’s Month.
When Steel Talks’ Celebration of Women and the Steelpan Art Form
Women's Contribution to the
Steelband Movement
by Merle Albino-de Coteau
Trinidad - In the 1940's, during our childhood we were fortunate to hear and appreciate in our neighbourhood a beautiful musical sound produced by a small pan played by Carl Greenidge (uncle of the now renowned pannist/arranger Robert Greenidge). Carl Greenidge can be referred to as the "Father" of pan players in S uccess Village, Laventille, having first started "Kentuckians Steel Orchestra." "Torrid Zone" was an off-shoot of Kentuckians which was later renamed "Savoys" (later sponsored by Chase Manhattan therefore becoming "Chase Manhattan Savoys" of which Merle Albino-Coteau became the musical director in 1970).
Since then there has been no turning back, as I became "hooked" on this phenomenal instrument "the pan." Hence whenever the opportunity presents itself, I try to preach the "Gospel of Pan."
While several "histories" have been written about the role of the Pan man, very little, if any, is written about the contributions of women to the steelband movement. It is hoped that this presentation will help clarify any misconceptions that might have accrued over the years. I hope to help enlighten pan lovers such as yourselves as to what the facts really are.
Full Story
This is wonderful. Women should be celebrated for many reasons. Women in Pan represent strong, intelligent and free women. I would like to ask the community to also remember our less fortunate counterparts all over the world. Speak out against abuse and oppression and discrimination of women - the strength behind men!
I am trying to locate some of the early women pan pioneers and would appreciate it if anyone could help me find Gemma Worrell (Desperadoes), Norma Callendar (Hill 60), Heloise Steele (Westside Symphony) and Christine Law (Wonderland). Kim Johnson
A Student of mine (Vanessa Headley) did an interview with her last year and a copy of it is in the West Indiana Collection on the second floor of the Main Library at UWI.
In fact, here is a list of all of the women in steel that my class interviewed as their assignment in my steelpan history class semester II of 2008. They are complete with photos, CD of interview, and a bio/research paper.
Kathleen Helenese-Paul is the Head Librarian in charge on the 2nd Floor.
INTERVIEWEE INTERVIEWER
Merle Albino-de Coteau Gwynneth McEachrane
Elvira Baptiste Kizzy Joseph
Solange Baptiste Harripersad Maharaj
Maureen Clement Sophia Jemmott
Lorna Conyette Farley Joseph Jr.
Lorna Conyette Richarde Bereaux
Barbara Crichlow-Shaw Daynel Kyshon Frith
Michelle Flemming Junior Taylor
Loraine Granderson Kesica Brewster
Franka Hills-Headley Cherysh LaTouche
Michelle Huggins-Watts David Jacob
Norma Kelman Carleen Elcock
Dr. Anne M. Osborne Danielle Ryan
Marcella MarFan Shleah Edwards-Clarke
Daisy James McClean Pete Braxton
Jacque McKell Tinika Davis
Joy-Ann Moseley Melissa Jimenez
Marjorie Moseley Abigail Joseph
Stacy Pierre Devon James
Jamila Jozanne Romany Andre Frederick
Sherry-Ann Saunders Koreece Graham
Sherry-Ann Saunders Valene Lewis
Gertrude Steele-Garcia Vanessa Headley
Ursula Theodore Shirl Frederick
Nubia Williams Psyche Greenidge
Nubia Williams Dike Samai
Jean Bacchus Xavier James Radix
Kim Johnson > Jeannine RemyApril 13, 2009 at 8:54am
Thanks Jennine. I'll go check them out. Otherwise, how are you? We must meet soon. Kim
Replies
The passing of Dr. Pat Bishop is indeed a blow and a tragic loss to the Pan Movement and the Cultural landscape of Trinidad and Tobago the wider Caribbean indeed the world! Those of us who have had the great opportunity to witness and experience her genius would have had a taste of heaven here on earth. To watch her unleash her skills be it composing directing a pan orchestra or a choir was sheer magic!! Her story should and must be told to coming generations!! May she rest in peace and I know that she is is in heaven directing a Pan Side of Angels!!
Rest in Peace !!
Jennifer Walker
Director of Double Laugh Theatre Productions
Member of Tropical Steel Orchestra - Barbados
i can be contacted vai my email address my name is Claudius Phillips--coboz2k6@yahoo.com.
Any help you can give in this regard would be welcomed.
lancaster library_0002.pdf
May- August 2009 Steel Pan workshop.doc
I also saw a contribution by a Phd student.
But the major unheralded contributions were made in significant ways by persons/women and men without the access to academia or governmental positions. They work and have worked on the groung in bands and training youth.
They are some of the ones who sustain and do not sell out.
Buzz Johnson: buzztobago@yahoo.co.uk; kariapress@yahoo.co.uk
in the Steelpan World
by the late Clive Bradley, Arranger
Bradley reminisced about the early days of women in pan:
“The first time that I remember seeing women play Steelpan was around 1968, somewhere around there - when three women joined Desperadoes; one of them was Ursula, on the tenor pan, and she still plays with the band today. The other, Carol, played tenor pan too, and the third, whose name I can’t recall right now, played the Bass. It was a sort of status symbol for those guys because there were not too many bands with women playing. They were good players. As a matter of fact, I believe that Scrunter (Owen Reyes Johnson) wrote Woman On the Bass for particularly that girl.
In 2005, legendary producer, artist and master steelband music arranger Clive Bradley, shared with WST his personal thoughts and memories on Women In Pan in a special interview for Women’s Month.
click for more
bugs
Women's Contribution to the
Steelband Movement
by Merle Albino-de Coteau
Trinidad - In the 1940's, during our childhood we were fortunate to hear and appreciate in our neighbourhood a beautiful musical sound produced by a small pan played by Carl Greenidge (uncle of the now renowned pannist/arranger Robert Greenidge). Carl Greenidge can be referred to as the "Father" of pan players in S uccess Village, Laventille, having first started "Kentuckians Steel Orchestra." "Torrid Zone" was an off-shoot of Kentuckians which was later renamed "Savoys" (later sponsored by Chase Manhattan therefore becoming "Chase Manhattan Savoys" of which Merle Albino-Coteau became the musical director in 1970).
Since then there has been no turning back, as I became "hooked" on this phenomenal instrument "the pan." Hence whenever the opportunity presents itself, I try to preach the "Gospel of Pan."
While several "histories" have been written about the role of the Pan man, very little, if any, is written about the contributions of women to the steelband movement. It is hoped that this presentation will help clarify any misconceptions that might have accrued over the years. I hope to help enlighten pan lovers such as yourselves as to what the facts really are.
Full Story
Gertrude Steele-Garcia?
A Student of mine (Vanessa Headley) did an interview with her last year and a copy of it is in the West Indiana Collection on the second floor of the Main Library at UWI.
In fact, here is a list of all of the women in steel that my class interviewed as their assignment in my steelpan history class semester II of 2008. They are complete with photos, CD of interview, and a bio/research paper.
Kathleen Helenese-Paul is the Head Librarian in charge on the 2nd Floor.
INTERVIEWEE INTERVIEWER
Merle Albino-de Coteau Gwynneth McEachrane
Elvira Baptiste Kizzy Joseph
Solange Baptiste Harripersad Maharaj
Maureen Clement Sophia Jemmott
Lorna Conyette Farley Joseph Jr.
Lorna Conyette Richarde Bereaux
Barbara Crichlow-Shaw Daynel Kyshon Frith
Michelle Flemming Junior Taylor
Loraine Granderson Kesica Brewster
Franka Hills-Headley Cherysh LaTouche
Michelle Huggins-Watts David Jacob
Norma Kelman Carleen Elcock
Dr. Anne M. Osborne Danielle Ryan
Marcella MarFan Shleah Edwards-Clarke
Daisy James McClean Pete Braxton
Jacque McKell Tinika Davis
Joy-Ann Moseley Melissa Jimenez
Marjorie Moseley Abigail Joseph
Stacy Pierre Devon James
Jamila Jozanne Romany Andre Frederick
Sherry-Ann Saunders Koreece Graham
Sherry-Ann Saunders Valene Lewis
Gertrude Steele-Garcia Vanessa Headley
Ursula Theodore Shirl Frederick
Nubia Williams Psyche Greenidge
Nubia Williams Dike Samai
Jean Bacchus Xavier James Radix
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