Canada Steelpan Musician & former Trinidad & Tobago National Steelband member Alton C. Clarke remembered

[Pan Times]

 

Canada - Alton C. Clarke, or “Clarky” as he is known to all pan players and pan lovers in the Canadian Midwest, brought an awareness and appreciation of the steelpan instrument and its music to the province of Manitoba between the years 1971 to 1984.

Clarke, who passed earlier in December, was also a member of the national steelband of Trinidad . His life was devoted to furthering the outreach of pan, which he thoroughly accomplished in Manitoba, outside his native Trinidad and Tobago. The latter’s government honored Alton Clarke in November of 2006.

As leader and arranger of the Unicity Pan Harmonics Steel Orchestra since 1972, “Clarky” was able to attract and train players ranging in age from 12 to 50, most of whom had never before played the instrument, and some who had never even been aware of its existence.
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[Dougal Williams]

Thanks for posting this WST. Clarky will long be remembered by those of us whose lives he has touched. Earl LaPierre's performance at his funeral was a most fitting tribute to the beautiful art of playing rather than beating pan. Clarky would have been proud.

[Pan Times]

When Steel Talks extends condolences to the family and friends of Mr. Alton C. Clarke.

[Earl La Pierre jr.]

May Mr Clarke rest in peace and its my pleasure to play pan right now at his funeral, I'm sure he's looking down upon us and smiling in the "panyard" in the sky!

Earl La Pierre Jr.

[Kim Johnson]

The National Steel Orchestra and TASPO were two very different bands. TASPO went to the Festival of Britain in 1951 and it's 50th anniversary will be commemorated in Trinidad next August. That band was led by Lt. Joseph Nathaniel Griffiths and was the first modern steel orchestra. The National Steel Orchestra which Clarke was a member of was established in 1964 and was one of three bands that performed at Expo 67 in Montreal.

[Pan Times]

Thanks for the correction...

 

WST