I am hereby calling on ALL members on this WST site, to assist me in nominating my dad, George "Sonny" Goddard, for the nation's highest award - the Order of the Republic of Trinidad and Tobago. I have attached a "breakdown" of his accomplishments, and although, in 1988, he was (posthumously) awarded the Humming Bird Gold Medal, that award does not match the almost half a century he gave to the steelband movement and industry. Mr. Goddard, in 1966, was presented to Queen Elizabeth II, and has received cordial correspondence from various world leaders, including the Vatican. He is the ONLY person to lead all three pan bodies (the Steelbands' Association, the National Association Of Trinidad and Tobago Steelbandsmen/NATTS, and the current Pan Trinbago, and is the only pan leader to be appointed as an advisor to the Prime Minister (Dr. Eric Williams), and commissioned by government to document his involvement in the steelbands. George was a member of the first documented steelband, Alexander's Ragtime Band, served as an executive of the early Invanders, under Dr. Ellie Mannette, and his contributions to the steelband movement, to date, has been unparalleled! I am not asking for money; all I am asking you for, is to do the respectful and descent thing by sending your nominations to the Trinidad and Tobago government. I am not sure what the cut-off date to submit nominations is, but I hope you all see the importance of appropriately honouring this public servant and loyal patriot of Trinidad and Tobago. For those of you who claim to "love pan", I appeal to your consciences, that you also love those who fought and died for our "national instrument". History will record how we treat our heroes and sheroes, and we need to understand that the ones in the steelband industry did not all play pan, or were more involved in the struggle, which became known as THE STEELBAND MOVEMENT! I thank you all in advance. Shem Em Hotep (May you go in peace).
George D. Goddard, B.A. Music
Pan'tum - The Ghost Who Talks. Honoring The Legacy Of George "Sonny" Goddard
Replies
Pan'tum i,ve joined this website IN GOOD FAITH,,,having had practical experience in my lifetime as in relation to the making of the Steelpan,,THAT SACRIFICE I,VE MADE,, and do know what it,s like,,the information put forward here on this website months ago about your father George S Goddard, have had scepticism and displeasure even to date, there is no other person so far on WST that has proclaimed that another in is par with your fathers work,,, foreigners whom are in the process of trying to make a long lasting livelihood,,forgeting that George Sonny Goddard was one of the persons involved in the foundation of the the Steeelpan, in T&T,,, FACTS,, are being supported,,,strange!!!,there are many persons on this website that do not appreciate you, i,m also not being appreciated in any case it doesn,t matter,,what surprises me is that my fellow Carribbean brothers Trinbagonians /not all / willfully and intentionally do not support your cause,,Well Pan'tum let it be know as a Panman that you have my vote for the nomination of your father ,my respect to yourself and family and to all on this website, to make a Steelpan without the help of anyone learning the hard way,,bussing up yuh finger and the sweetest part is having the Chomatic/tone/notes registered in your BRAINS IS A GIFT FROM ,,GOD THE ALMIGHTY,it feels good to speak THE TRUTH ,,.GOD BLESS.
obviously I am an admirer of "Sonny" Goddard and stand wuth you on this but need to correct an error. Alexanders Ragtime Band was NOT a steelband. Never was. It was the last "great" Bamboo Tamboo band. Not even Oval Boys that broke away from A.R.B. they too was an modified Bamboo Tamboo plus metal band. Midnight Invaders WAS and IS the FIRST real steelband and is the OLDEST steelband and Dr Ellie is the creator/inventor of the playable instrument we call Pan.
"the fraud was unmasked on Tuesday when George Goddard, currently on contract with the TnT Government, blew the lid on it during a meeting held earlier this week in Barataria...I took seven pieces of documents on pan history written by JD Elder, former Chairman of the National Cultural Council, and I found that they were not only badly written, but they contained a lot of wrong information as well. Cecil Gray and Allan Gilchrist also wrote a lot of misleading information for students in the book 'Languages for Living,' and Mannette produced an article for an international musical magazine which ranks with distortions."
TNT Mirror. 02/27/1987. (Source: http://www.trinbagopan.com/steelpan/steelbandhoax.htm. Accessed 7/6/12.)
The year: 1987. (Note the frail look of a man battling cancer, while remaining DEDICATED to the steelbands and pan.)
QUESTION: Can you better understand why George "Sonny" Goddard became a threat, and why the old attitudes still exist? (I mean he exposed some very endeared and exalted people, some who have very close ties to some members of WST.)
Pan'tum,
I, categorically and unequivocally am in support of your just and noble intentions to honour the legacy of, and pay tribute to the accomplishments of your late father, George 'Sonny' Goddard, by rallying the support of the WST members to submit their nominations for the bestowal of the title ' Order of the Republic of Trinidad and Tobago' upon him, posthumously.
In this regard, may I suggest that, instead of individual members submitting their own nominations, the management of WST do so on behalf of its entire membership. I don't see how any true 'panophile' could, in good conscience, not acknowledge your father's dedication and commitment to the promotion, promulgation and preservation of this indigenous art form, and , more importantly, in serving the best interests of, and protecting the rights of, all those who play pan music.
As a body, a fraternity, we would in unison carry more clout in our attempt to nominate your late, beloved and respected father, for the 'Order of the Republic of Trinidad and Tobago'.
FYI- This request is more about US, than him. I hope you all come to see that. GHOST
Might it be a better idea to create an award that rewards the life and accomplishments of George Goddard and choose a new recipient for that award each year?
I ask because, in most situations, I do not see the benefit of giving posthumous awards to the deceased rather than recognizing and appreciating those who are still alive.
With the created (or renamed) George Goddard award, we can both preserve and celebrate the memory of him and his accomplishments while still finding another way to connect his work with the work of today's young leaders.
Kern:
That is a good idea but that calls for a LOT of administrative function. That is a lot of work!
Claude
An interesting idea Kern. Maybe we should consider both.
bugs
The "benefit", Kern, is NOT for the "deceased". It's for the "LIVING LEGACY". This is why, even though, Marcus Garvey, is also deceased, there is still an attempt to "clear his name" with the United States Government. I LOVE the idea of a George Goddard award, although. I think the best way to connect anyone with their past, is simply :tell the story. Steelband history should not just be about the music, but the movement, and when it includes the socio-political struggles, then persons like my dad will be remembered and properly contextualized. Thanks for the great idea ("WORDS"), Kern. At least, NO ONE expects you to put it into "ACTION" by yourself. Seems like the "Goddard brand", has to play by different rules. Oh well, that's the way it is, and we will deal with it. Hotep (Peace).
GHOST
Another good idea by Kern worth taking into consideration
Salah