Pan needs a S-T-A-R in North America. One who could fill nightclubs and concert halls from the mountains to the prairies and from sea to shining sea. We have thousands of players in bands -- and on the KFC circuit (one piece, two piece, three piece … six piece) playing at birthday parties and weddings and pool parties and barbeques as NOVELTY ACTS.
It is time for ONE PLAYER to leave the herd and join the mainstream music circuit wowing audiences outside of the Caribbean enclaves.
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AH STILL WAITING FOR MEH PAN STAR from TRINIDAD after SIX YEARS!!!
And I know: IT EH HAPPENING!!!
DEY DOH HAVE "THE PACKAGE!!!"
Of ALL the "Discussions" on WST, this is probably one of the MOST ridiculous that I have come across. (Thank "God" it was short.) First of all, why does "pan (need) a S-T-A-R in North America? And, does "North America" include Canada, or just the "United States of America"? Secondly, who defines what a "star" is; the USA? Is that why Nicki Minaj is a "star"? Should pan adopt that "American culture" (violence, drugs, alcohol, "bling bling", pimps and "hos", and obsession for seeing women as sexual objects), like she and other "stars in North America" do (in order to become "stars")? Should pan have music videos and performances with scantily-clad, "big-booty" (mainly Black) women, as they engage in twerking and other sexually-suggestive "dance moves"? Is this why Marcel Montano is a "S-T-A-R"; because he bought in to the concept of "gaining the world and losing his soul"? Thirdly, if pan did not have "stars", then why was Hugh Borde's Tripoli Steel Band on the Ed Sullivan Show and David Frost Show; shows that feature "stars"? Why would "stars" like Liberace, (rock group) Chicago, Grover Washington, Jr., Jaco Pastorius, Louie Vega, and Ralph MacDonald work (and play) with panmen like Othello Molineaux, Robert Greenidge, Boogsie (so much a "star", he is known by just one name), and Emile "Spiceman" Borde? Fourthly, which "star" EVER "could fill nightclubs and concert halls from the mountains to the prairies and from sea to shining sea"? Jay-Z? Justin Bieber? Lady Gaga? The reality is NO "star" could do that. Trust me, Jay-Z would go well in parts of the "Deep South" or in "Redneck country". And the KKK do not care to see Kanye West, even if he has a "mulatto" "bastard" (to quote them). There are places (in this world) within the extremes of "sea to shining sea", that not even Michael Jackson tickets would have sold out. That is all "Blues Brothers" movie talk. Another FACT is, that even though Rap/Hip Hop is a multi-million dollar industry, Rock music is still No. 1. ( http://www.statista.com/statistics/188910/us-music-album-sales-by-g...) When to compare rock and jazz "stars", you would notice that the latter is not even close, in terms of "stradom". Jazz musicians play, not to become "stars", but because they KNOW they are "S-T-A-R-S". Like ALL "chosen" these musicians refuse to give up their (jazz) souls in order to gain the "world". So, pan does NOT "need a star"; the author of this misinformed and myopic discussion, needs to recognize our "S-T-A-R-S", like so many of our fellow "countrymen" and "countrywomen" do. Agreed, some panmen and panwomen also need to be told (or, in some cases reminded) that they are "S-T-A-R-S"; which could be the acronym for STILL TRINI AND REPRESENTING STEELBAND! I believe that we are ALL STARS; that we are ALL born as STARS, and, too often, the "challenges in Life", makes us forget who (and what) we are: BORN OUT OF "STARDOM"! Both as a "Trinbagonian people" and individually. We are SO blessed that we are from this twin-island nation, and it truly behooves me why some think that our "successes" and becoming "S-T-A-R-S" depend on rejecting parts of our culture in favour of American culture. Remember, it was our culture that opened the doors in the US for us in the first place, and certainly was the culture that got me to perform for Aretha Franklin with Hugh Borde's Trinidad Tripoli Steel Band. Not once, but three times! (Imagine that...a DIVA, considered Tripoli as "S-T-A-R-S"! She probably saw them on the Ed Sullivan Show. lol.) As for "NOVELTY ACTS"; while I agree that some pan players allow themselves to be stereotyped, I do not see anything wrong with being a "novelty", because, all that means is that you are "new" or "fresh". You are not a musician that they see and hear everyday, and you have something to offer, of which they are not familiar. Every musician, regardless of genre or instrument of choice, is a "novelty act" somewhere. Barnum & Bailey Circus is a tour made up of "novelty acts". "Novelty", in all actuality, really only means "unique". And, again, it was that (uniqueness) what sold our culture on the international market. We should be thankful that after all these years the steelband and pan are still considered "novelties" and not yet "mainstream", because the day they are no longer "novelties", is the day we also would lose another "unique" part of our "Trinbagonian culture" that attracts the ENTIRE WORLD to our twin-island shores. (Sorry, for the lengthy comment, all.)
Ghost Who Knows What We NEED To Do To Reclaim The Stardom We Once Owned!
(BE OUR "TRINBAGONIAN" SELVES!!! That is our Unique Selling Proposition! NO ONE in the World like us!)
Sorry... for this to become a sales pitch for electronic pan, and to say it's necessary for stardom... hey, maybe it would be a difference maker for me, but I would just like to be able to buy a new pan... never mind an electronic one.
I think a player of a regular pan can make it. Breaking through prejudices that suggest that there is only certain kinds of music pan can play was my biggest obstacle. Local musicians now enjoy fusing our gifts and reinterpreting music in unexpected ways. Getting involved in larger projects has raised my visibility in the local music community.
My suggestion for any pannist... don't be afraid to go to open stage performances, get out of the panyard. The only way to get exposure beyond the panyard is to get out of the panyard.
Corey,
I did not see anyone making a pitch for the electronic pan, to me it was just stated that there is the electronic pan also and there is, we have to come to terms with there are a few new kids on the block and they are all related by the sound they make.
You spoke of "pan getting out of the panyard" we have to acknowledge that there is a peculiar situation with our instrument being, Pan is the instrument and Steelband the ochestra. The PAN has had limited success out of the panyard but what many would like and is hoping to see is the steelband big brake.
In Toronto we are doing just that we are playing all type of gigs and bring bless to be making a living of the steel pan which
we brought from TNT, And as Trini we are proud to be born in a country that our culture can allow some of us to use the skill
and the national Instrument of our country to take care of our family, and also allow us to be ambassadors of our loving Twin
Island TNT God Bless our nation.
People here continue to be confused about the global promotion of "Pan", the instrument(s) and "Pan", the music of the steelband or ensemble. There is a definite difference.
Pan needs a TUNE
I sense by star we mean bigger than what we currently embrace as that,unfortunately there are many stars in our galaxy that are not really supported to the next level. I know shortly however your desires will be fulfilled in North America by an American with way less than our best, who will fit the required mold for a real pan S-T-A-R..