Will there ever be a return of Caribbean youth panoramics, Dem stars, Marsicans, Panphonics, Harlem Allstars to panorama or a stage side.
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Will there ever be a return of Caribbean youth panoramics, Dem stars, Marsicans, Panphonics, Harlem Allstars to panorama or a stage side.
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Mr Monroe: Thanks for the resume you posted it's very informative. However, I have not seen any mention of you as leader of a band participated in the Brooklyn pamorama, but you said that you have the answers. The three bands in question were consisted of very young players. Speaking for Marsicans Steel Orch., 80% of the 100 players we entered the competition with each year were under 25 years old. We had players as young as 10 years old.
The fact is, the compensation awarded by the organizers of the event is insufficient to produce a band our size (100 players ). At that time we used more than 30 tenor pans for the event. Presently, one tenor pan cost over $,1000, so, now our tenor section alone will cost more than $30,000. Plus it is almost impossible to find a place to rehearse and if you do it will be beyond affordable. Unless a large coporation gets involved as Scotia Bank did with Toronto Caribbana and sponsor the Labor day weekend activities, I would say no to the question asked.
My band never participated in any pan-a-rama because it was to small. I only had a stage side that consisted of seven (7) players. On a personel level I played in the first pan-a-rama in brooklyn with the late Rudolf King who was my mentor. I was also the first American born of T'dad parents to play in a Steel band in this country. For the record, I played in four more pan-a-rama"s beside the first one. #2 was with Panmasters, #3 was with Metro ,two times, #4 was with pantonic. I practised with Despers for a pan-A-Rama but due to an emergency was unable to play. aka: Curly, aka: Tahzann.
Curly, I remember you well playing with me in Panmasters during the early seventies and I have seen you playing in other bands in the past. I have very high respect for your experience, your love, and commitment to the art form. Why did you answered the question for us saying that we were too old not knowing the right reasons?
The colleges were mainly up-state colleges in and around New York State. The names at this time I cannot remember. They all treated us respect and appreciation for the art form. Many of the students (mostly white) had never heard or seen a steel band before. Which I believe open the door for Doctor Ellie Mannett to start teaching at the colleges.
I forgot to mention that I was one of them old time players. In fact, for a while I Captained my own band for several years.
"Brooklyn Steel Harmonic Steel Band" We were a favorite in the Village along with Victor Brady, Tommy Rey and KimWe also played the college circuit plus Park Palace, Hotel Diplomat. Rockland Palace, Manhattan Center, the old Arlington Inn in brooklyn just to name a few places. Brooklyn also had back in the day. Pan masters ( who i played with) Cross Fire
( who i played with) Brooklynnaires, Conrad Mauge's Band with arraingers Carlos Lezamma & Carl Dera cabballo ( who I played with). i could go on and on, but i won't. aka: Tahzann / aka; Curly. Shout out to all pan people. in the words of Jessie Jackson. " Keep Hope Alive"
The same way a new band can surface, these bands can re-surface with new players, but it won't be easy.
The answer is NO. Most of the players at this time are to old (lol) i should no, because at 81 years of age ,who better to answer that question. aka: Curly / aka: Tahzann.