With the advent of racks with wheels, came the challenging and gruesome task of moving steelbands from one place to another. That task was willingly and voluntarily picked up by none other than the steelband supporter. Were it not for those who became famous for nothing other than "pushing pan", I would like to say, "Thank you". Granted, some may have done so, only to gain access to the stands, especially the North Stand, but the vast majority were decent men and women who were loyal to their representative steelbands. Steelband, in all actuality, could not have survived without the physical, moral, and spiritual support of these mostly-unknown and forgotten men and women. They were the self-propelled, self-powered legs that gave the steelbands their mobility. The ability to move from one place to another. Indeed, steelbands are more than just the music; they are the center of Trinidad and Tobago mores and traditions, and their supporters are an integral part of the wheel that keeps pan culture moving forward. In fact, they are the wheels. Dedicated to ALL those who have supported steelband culture over the years. (How say you?)
Ghost Who Knows Pan Is More Than Just Pan. It's The Cultural Expression Of A Nation!
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I WILL REPEAT PAN IS ALIVE IN TT IN 2013 - I witness the movement from George Goddard time to present like everything else around the world transformation are part of evolution - TT pan fraternity went through a downhill because of migration between 1970 and beyound - MIGRATION OF PANMEN CAUSE A DEEP HOLE between 1970 to 1990 - there after pan start making a comeback in TT - today we have a complete new generation of pan players and they are very good......
Garvin, we hear yuh but no amount of activity during the year could come close to a strong showing on the road carnival Monday and Tuesday. Don tell meh nottin bout dem days done.
Good one.....Ghost.....those were the days.....
It look like in the Mecca they forgot what the steelband is about.
Pushing pan was the highlight of my carnival days. So you're welcome to providing such a delight.
Thanks again for all the positive comments, stories, and feedback, All. In the midst of all the negativity directed at pan culture, I decided to post discussions that would remind us what we love about our culture. Not American-influenced culture. Not Jamaican-influenced culture. (NO disrespect to our American and Jamaican brothers and sisters in the international steel drum/pan community.) The instrument was born out of a culture that gave birth unto itself in the twin-island nation of Trinidad and Tobago. It is as valuable as the oil, natural gas, and asphalt reserves our nation has been blessed with. To Bertel Gittens, I say to you, NONE of your negative, insulting, disrespecting, and insignificant comments matter to me, as I am sure it does not to the rest of the TRUE "pan family". Again, I understand that in EVERY group, there will be a Judas Iscariot or two...or three. I do not want the old days to come back; I just cherish the memories like I do with all of my past life experiences, and I chose to share those memories and give thanks to ALL those who paved the way. Thanks again for all the positive comments. Wishing ALL a great Sun Day. Ghost.
Ghost, I would like you to LOVE me with ALL my negative, insulting, disrespecting and insignificant comments just as I love you with your EGOCENTRIC, BULLYING, DUMB, and oftentimes FOOLISH, CHILDISH and insensitive statements that are made by you under the pretext that someone did you something first. Do you think anyone here have anytime for you or care anything about you, YOU ROYAL BULLY!!!
Sir,I say all this with the greatest of LOVE and RESPECT!!
Bertel: As much as you do for PAN at every level IN TRINIDAD and as much as you have been dedicated to the PAN COMMUNITY for so many decades -- I just cannot believe that you are a JUDAS to the instrument.
And it is hard for me to believe that you are NOT a member of the true pan family.
Say it ain't so, Bertel!!!
Claude, ah doh have Royal Blood!
The greatest pan supporters I witness is Silver Stars Jouvert morning between 1964 to 1970 the band on carnival Sunday night played 4 fetes at Perseverance (maraval) Chinese Association (St Anns) Chung Shan (Charlotte St) and Bretton Hall (POS) all the bands assemble at Tragarete Rd & Victoria Ave - those are moments in pan that give me goose-bumps...
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