Born in East Dry River, Port-of-Spain in 1940, Owen Serrette’s family moved to Morvant when he was just one year old, a move that eventually saw him become a bona fide Harmonites Steel Orchestra member, a steelband he still faithfully serves. Serrette did return to his birthplace as a child, at 10 Bonaparte Lane, Basilon Street, to attend Rosary Boys’ RC School.
It was during his return as a primary school student that Serrette first got involved with the steelband. At the age of ten he played with City Syncopators for the Carnival of 1950. At that time, calypsonians and steelbandsmen were considered “outcasts” as eulogised in Sparrow’s calypso Outcast with the famous lyrics: “If yuh sister talk to a steelbandman, yuh family want to break she hand, put she out, outcast.”
Said Serrette: “Because I was living in Basilon Street and attending Rosary Boys, I was attracted to City Syncopators.”
Serrette’s family was a very religious one so it is no surprise that his mother, on learning of his involvement in pan, broke down in tears. She refused to believe that her dearly beloved boy child was seen “beating pan” on the road, believing that he was associating with “bad johns” and “jamettes” who formed part of the steelband fraternity. Ironically, it was okay for Serrette’s elder brothers to “beat pan,” but not little Owen, who she saw as becoming a priest.
Indeed, Serrette’s venture into the world of pan was cut short when he enrolled at the seminary at Mt St Benedict. But, though ensconced in the hallowed halls of the seminary, he managed to frequent the panyard of Flamingoes Steel Orchestra, located in “the Village” on St John’s Road, the roadway to the Mount.
Upon departing the Mount, Serrette rejoined the Teenage Serenaders steelband in his then hometown of Morvant.
As its name suggests, this was an aggregation of young panmen who did not qualify to play with the loftily perched and legendary Ebonites Steel Orchestra.
Natural progression followed and Serrette eventually became a member of the renowned Ebonites outfit as a tenor player, his instrument of choice. This was a dream come true and at the time Ebonites, of Roses from the South fame, was known as “the dance band of the sixties.”
In 1966, Serrette was lured away from Ebonites to Harmonites Steel Orchestra by its first captain Winston “Skull” Flemming and arranger Knolly Bobb. From that fateful move, in addition to being a stalwart playing member, Serrette served Harmonites in several capacities, inclusive of becoming an executive member, being appointed captain in 1980-90, and as manager from 1990-94.
Serrette represented this Morvant steelband, and by extension T&T as a cultural ambassador, with pride and distinction, performing regionally in Barbados, Suriname and the Cayman Islands, and internationally in places like New York, Atlanta, Switzerland, Spain, England and Brasil.
There is some historical significance to when Harmonites toured New York, then sponsored by Solo Beverages, in 1979, as Serrette is the only member of the contingent to voluntarily return to Trinidad.
Solo Harmonites, described by Serrette as “the beacon of Morvant,” has won the National Panorama title on four occasions with some creative and unique arrangements by Earl Rodney.
Proud of his band achievements, Serrette said: “My favourite pan arranger is Earl Rodney. I honestly believe that Earl was way before his time, especially with his arrangements of stage-side music. Jit Samaroo, Renegades’ arranger, confirmed that to me.”
In 1994, a core of Harmonites players, led by Serrette and Lloyd Manswell, severed ties with the legendary steelband, taking with them the prized Solo Beverages sponsorship to form Solo Pan Knights Steel Orchestra.
With Pan Knights he toured Nigeria, Colombia, London and returned to the Cayman Islands. The two Morvant pan giants reunited in 2000 but the relationship again irretrievably disintegrated in 2013.
In the steelband world, Serrette is widely respected as a leader, so it came as no surprise when he was elected as the assistant secretary of the now defunct National Association of T&T Steelbandsmen (NATTS).
When NATTS dissolved and Pan Trinbago formed, Serrette served as Education Officer of the new organisation in 1982-’88. He subsequently succeeded president Arnim Smith upon his demise, many of the opinion that Serrette was handpicked by Smith to be a successor.
Indeed Smith was Serrette’s role model in pan. He said: “My favourite president was Arnim Smith. I believe that not too much credit is given to him. Because of his street (common), and not necessarily (book) sense, he was able to carry the movement to a point which made my reign as president the success I believe it was.”
Serrette, his quiet demeanour in stark contrast to the robust attitude of previous steelband organisation leaders like Smith and George Goddard, had a very successful tenure as Pan Trinbago president. In 1992, it was his recommendation to the Patrick Manning administration, that led to pan being declared “the national instrument of T&T.”
The formation of Panvesco and the introduction of the Panyard Development Programme stand out as just two of many success stories of Serrette’s stewardship. It was during his tenure at the helm of Pan Trinbago that the business sector was said to be “most pan friendly,” seen as a declaration of its confidence in the national steelband organisation.
Said Serrette: “Corporate sponsors seemed more appreciative of work done and partnerships were developed in hosting events and providing financial assistance to steelbands.”
Programmes initiated under Serrette’s stewardship which provided sponsorship to the steelband fraternity included the National Junior Panorama and National Junior Steelband Music Festival competitions; Pan on the Road competitions; Arima Panorama; Carnival Monday Night Steelband Explosion; Borough of Point Fortin Pan on the Move; Pan Chutney; Pan Ramajay; Hindi Foundation’s Steelband competition; The Panman’s Ball; Steelband Week and many more.
Serrette initiated music literacy for pan musicians at UWI, no doubt inspired to do so having being a member of the UWI steelband in Mona, Jamaica in 1973.
He also instituted training in management and administration for young managers of member steelbands. He insisted, and still insists, that pan musicians become musically literate and be referred as “musicians,” and not panmen.
In 2014, Serrette was honoured by Morvant’s St Dominic’s Ex Pupils and literary and cultural associations for “outstanding contributions in the field of culture in the Morvant community.”
As president of Pan Trinbago, in order to internationalise the organisation, Serrette established Pan Trinbago chapters in Canada, New York and Arizona, and formed alliances with Caribbean steelband organisations.
Cultural exchange programmes were also established, with lasting relationships, whereby local musicians, tuners and arrangers secured performances and work abroad.
An amazing caveat of Serrette’s stint as president is that he served strictly in a voluntary capacity. “At no time during the years I spent as president of Pan Trinbago did I receive a salary,” he revealed.
http://www.guardian.co.tt/lifestyle/2016-09-19/celebrating-outcast
Replies
Thanks for the wonderful tribute of a hero, Owen Serrette, a gentleman and progressive,quiet strategist. What a loss! Condolences to all!
Kudos to Owen Serrette. Very quiet demeanor but achieved some much, not for himself but for Pan. He certainly is a rare specie. The type of leader, I am proud to salute. Rest in Peace my dear brother.
“A LEADER is someone who demonstrates WHAT’S POSSIBLE.”
Mark Yarnell
A GREAT steelband leader, visionary, practitioner of exemplary character, judging by his accomplishment, how does that compare to our present leadership in the steelband movement, how do we define Leadership?
It’s been said the true criteria of LEADERSHIP is for the benefit of the followers. His resume’ can be used as a template for those seeking office in the pan fraternity.
How can one man accomplish so much with so little, in this “Me first” society, volunteering your time for such challenging tasks speaks to the CHARACTER of the individual?
An amazing caveat of Serrette’s stint as president is that he served strictly in a voluntary capacity. “At no time during the years I spent as president of Pan Trinbago did I receive a salary,” he revealed.
As president of Pan Trinbago, in order to internationalize the organization, Serrette established Pan Trinbago chapters in Canada, New York and Arizona, and formed alliances with Caribbean steelband organizations.
Serrette initiated music literacy for pan musicians at UWI, no doubt inspired to do so having being a member of the UWI steelband in Mona, Jamaica in 1973.
Programs initiated under Serrette’s stewardship which provided sponsorship to the steelband fraternity included the National Junior Panorama and National Junior Steelband Music Festival competitions; Pan on the Road competitions; Arima Panorama; Carnival Monday Night Steelband Explosion; Borough of Point Fortin Pan on the Move; Pan Chutney; Pan Ramajay; Hindi Foundation’s Steelband competition; The Panman’s Ball; Steelband Week and many more.
The formation of Panvesco and the introduction of the Panyard Development Program stand out as just two of many success stories of Serrette’s stewardship. It was during his tenure at the helm of Pan Trinbago that the business sector was said to be “most pan friendly,” seen as a declaration of its confidence in the national steelband organization.
Serrette, his quiet demeanor in stark contrast to the robust attitude of previous steelband organization leaders like Smith and George Goddard, had a very successful tenure as Pan Trinbago president. In 1992, it was his recommendation to the Patrick Manning administration that led to pan being declared “the national instrument of T&T.”
Thank you Mr Serrette for your contribution to the steelband.
Cecil Hinkson: When are they going to start celebrating EXPATS for their contribution to the growth and development of STEELBAND MUSIC. All over NORTH AMERICA and EUROPE there are thousands of EXPATS who spread PAN all over the world. Look at all the time and energy a man like GLENROY JOSEPH put into promoting the music and his name will never be on the honor roll down in the MECCA. EXPATS quite down in Australia PUSHING PAN.
People in Trinidad want to take credit for the WORLDWIDE CONQUEST of PAN; but all the groundwork was done by EXPATS.
It is time to start honouring some of these PASSIONATE DEVOTEES who sacrificed and volunteered so much of their life taking pan to higher heights globally.
EXPAT CONTRIBUTIONS MATTER!!!
Ditto. Well said.
It ain't easy pushing pan in the US!
47 years and counting.
Believe it or not I live opposite the Serrette's in Morvant 1 Mora Street. We play cricket together, In the early days when pan was played with one hand. Steel band used to come the hill from Laventille to parade in Morvant. One day the police mad a raid and I jump a canal from the police I though I fly because I could never Jump the said canal again. The Serrette's used to take me with to see carnival behind the bridge. I was very small and I used to be bullied by old children and the Serrette's used to protect me. I used to treat them with fruits I get from my grandfather garden I get from the Country Flanagin Town. The first steel band Morvant ever had was called Leningrad with biscuit drums, Kettle drums, Iron and bugle. Knolly Bobb used to take my book bag and hide from me. I also used to go to church Which used to be called Last Church. I had a wonderful time with the Serrette's when the eldest brother used to bring the latest records from the state such as Harry James etc. God Bless the Serrette's who should me a wonderful time.
respect....on