So in the past week an historic work was launched. Invaders Steel Orchestra – The History of a Legendary Trinidad Steelband by Jeannine Remy and Ray Funk. Can anyone in the forum (WST) please tell me when this book will be available, ISBN number and from whom an internet order can be placed?
Thank you
Replies
Greetings all!
Invaders’ history unmasked for all
An historic, exciting, and memorable occasion,” was how George Matthew, director of Caribbean Airlines Ltd (CAL) Invaders Steel Orchestra, described the launch of the book Invaders Steel Orchestra: The History of a Legendary Trinidad Steelband that took place at the President’s Box in the Queen’s Park Oval, Woodbrook, yesterday.
“This is a must-read for anyone with an avid interest in the steelband movement in T&T, and is a valuable piece of history you should have in your home,” he said, in a welcome address to attendees.
The book, started more than eight years ago, was written by Dr Jeanine Remy, senior lecturer at the Department of Creative and Festival Arts (DCFA), University of the West Indies, St Augustine campus, and Ray Funk, retired Alaskan trial judge and Carnival historian and researcher.
The launch was part of the legendary steel orchestra’s week-long 75th anniversary celebrations.
The 700-plus pages of the missive look beyond the history of the Woodbrook-based steel orchestra, and is itself a history of the steelband movement seen through the eyes of the members of Invaders.
In delivering the feature address at the function Remy revealed a startling and unknown bit of information that came to light during the many interviews with the pioneers and elders of the band.
“We heard from one of them that Boysie Singh (arguably the most notorious thief, arsonist, gambler, pirate, smuggler, and mass murderer in the history of T&T) once hid a cache of guns under the famous breadfruit tree in the panyard for the members to use against Tokyo Steel Orchestra members with whom there was an ongoing war.
But that never happened because Ellie Mannette, then bandleader, had more sense than that,” she said.
Remy added that the authors faced a challenging task in compiling and sorting out the many views of the elders who contributed to the literary work in order to faithfully chronicle the history and contributions made by Invaders to the steelband movement.
http://www.guardian.co.tt/news/2015-09-19/invaders’-history-unmaske...
The ISBN: 978-976-8242-34-1
Book orders and questions about the book are being taken by Invaders at: invaders1940@gmail.com
You can see an enormous amount of photographs pulled directly from the book at the exhibition at the Queen's Park Conference Centre at the Oval on Elizabeth Street in Woodbrook. The hours are from 10:00am - 5:00pm closing on Wednesday the 23rd of September.
Check out Invaders 75th Anniversary on their Facebook page.
Thank you Jeannine, ISBN noted, unfortunately I'm in England and unable to be there I just wanted to buy it before coming for panorama 2016. It may be a bit heavy to bring it back to England in my luggage.
Again I have to question the resolve of a nation to attain develop nation status when occasions like this are not planned and taken advantage of by sponsors, tourist board the steelband movement as the perfect medium to raise international interest.
I know it is neither your fault or indeed Ray Funk's fault but surely between the band sponsors, CAL, Pan Trinbago and publishers a major publicity moment was wasted. Internet sales would be invaluable. Or perhaps people don't read that much these days.
Randi Curvan