For our 2020 graduation ceremonies Mr. Len Sharpe is 1 of the 4 honorary graduands to be recognised for their outstanding contributions to regional & international development by The UWI, St. Augustine Campus.
Len Sharpe, better known as Len ‘Boogsie’ Sharpe is a very successful & popular player, arranger and composer of steelpan music from Trinidad and Tobago. As a soloist extraordinaire or as part of a group, he has amazed audiences in North America, Europe & Asia. His life has been one of breaking boundaries in the pan world – in his composition style, in his management of his band & in his outspokenness on the business of pan. His gift of "perfect pitch" and the ability to immediately recreate almost anything that he heard was realised at a young age. He began playing at age 4, and at 9, he tried his hand at composing. One year later, he completed his first arrangement. By the time he was a teenager, Sharpe had mastered the art of playing different pans and was already being hailed as a genius.
Soon after he began playing with professional steelbands, he started his own steelband, Phase II Pan Groove in 1972. Boogsie has taken his band to over thirty Panorama competition finals—the most by any arranger. He copped the 1st place with Phase II in 1987 making history by winning Panorama without sponsorship, with his own composition entitled "This Feeling Nice", a double 1st. In Panorama competitions overall, Boogsie has over 20 victories with various bands in different categories. Pan aficionados worldwide converge annually on the Phase II panyard to observe the “maestro of steelpan” as he shapes his Panorama arrangements for the final night of the competition. Sharpe has also arranged for many steelbands across the Caribbean, UK and USA. He has made several recordings encompassing a variety of musical genres including calypso, classical & jazz. Among these is the very first CD recording using the PHI, an electronic steelpan innovation developed at The UWI which was inspired by Boogsie’s incredible mastery.
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Way to go Boogsie, Very proud of you and your accomplishments. I have followed your Musical Journey for many years and I am honored to know you. looking forward to many more accomplishments in the future...Anthony O'Brien (Tampa Bay Fl)_
CONGRATULATION "SIR LEN BOOGSIE SHARPE" YOU ARE THE BEST!
The PAN IN UNITY Medley arranged by Boogsie Sharpe and performed by 691 Musicians from 23 Countries
The PAN IN UNITY Medley arranged by Len "Boogsie" Sharpe!
Performed by the largest Virtual Steelband ever assembled that consists of 691 musicians representing 23 countries! They all came together to unite under ONE LOVE because NOW IS THE TIME to IMAGINE what this beautiful world was always meant to be...EVERYONE living in PEACE and HARMONY...The Medley consists of 3 songs, "Imagine" (John Lennon), "One Love" (Bob Marley), and Trinidad's own "Now Is The Time".
The PAN IN UNITY Team
Tracy Thornton (Instagram #pananimal33)
Yuko Asada (Instagram #yukoasada_)
Mia Gormandy-Benjamin (Instagram #mia_gormandy_benjamin)
Thanks for the MUSIC my brother...continued blessings.
Redemption Song versions