Dixieland Steel Orchestra Five get awards

[Pan Times]

Trinidad & Tobago, W.I. - They have been hailed as the “Liberators” of the steelband movement, and panmen. I’m talking about the Dixieland Steel Orchestra led by Curtis Pierre. It was only a few years ago the band, which blazed a trail in the 1960s, was honoured by Pan Trinbago. While panmen grudgingly accept the fact that it was only when these “white boys” started to play the pan, the barriers of prejudice and the stigma of hooliganism began being lifted. It’s really a fact that panmen have to live with, as these “college boys,” flew in the face of society and family to embrace the national instrument. They did so at great risk, even sacrificing their school careers. Long before the Pan Am North Stars, Dixieland was the rage in parties, dancehalls… you name it.
 

....Soon they were off to London for an extensive European and African tour.
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[Cecil hinkson]

I got the gist alright, it's only when these white college boys" started to play pan barriers of prejudice and the stigma of hooliganism began lifting, give me ah brake wid that, you forgot one thing black steelbands had college boys too, Ray Holman was one. Dixieland came at a time when peoples attitude began to change about panmen, it was not because of them.

[Cecil hinkson]

Not to take away anything from Dixieland but I have ah problem with "only when these white boys started to play pan" and I aint  accepting that fact grudgingly or other.

[Peter Gray]

Yes, this is food for thought.

 

Peter