Trinidad & Tobago Guardian
Trinidad & Tobago, W.I. - The names Hugh Borde, Tripoli Steelband and Wladziu “Liberace” Valentino may not be familiar to many young pan musicians, musicians in general or random adults, but to the history of pan, hopefully, they are.
Back in the 1960-80s, then steelband manager Hugh Borde—considered a “mad man to leave his ‘government’ job to go away with a steelband”—and his pan ensemble, Tripoli, were special in the eyes of the First World when we in Trinidad (The Mecca of Pan) couldn’t recognise the beam of light.
....In a video expose named Pan Story produced by Borde and his son, Emile (LA, USA), on the Tripoli-Borde-Liberace experience, a particular post-performance footage shows Liberace introducing a similarly-attired Hugh Borde to the audience when he jokingly tells him, “I have a concern … where do you get your idea from for your ‘costume’?”
Borde, with a huge grin, replies, “as everybody can see … from Liberace!” This special pan icon—Trinidad’s Liberace, Hugh Borde—recently turned 81-years-old.
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Replies
hAPPY Bdy HUGH from CLIFF ALEXIS GOOD LUCK
Congratulations are in order Hugh! Happy Birthday from the Albino Family. God's richest Blessings.
From Merle, on behalf of all of us.
happy bd......Boboy.......you looking like Emole is your brother.......and your moosh so black, like you sleeping on a coal pot
God's continued blessings Hugh
Owen Serrette
Welcome to the 80+ CLUB Hugh. Keep on keeping the Red white and Black flying.