(OPB.org) Oregon Public Broadcasting 
Oregon, USA - At some point in the 1960s, steel drum (a.k.a. pan) music became the Caribbean equivalent of cheesy Vegas lounge tunes: something only an ill-dressed tourist might fancy during a cruise ship port o’ call. And true, there’s probably a thousand bad pan covers of “Yellow Bird” out there, but the tradition is unfairly maligned. Not only are steel drums themselves a marvel of do-it-yourself ingenuity — they were originally created from oil drums left behind by American naval ships in Trinidad — but their unique, pearly sound is as recognizable and evocative as surf guitar tremolo or a Hammond B3 wheeze.
For 10 years now, Hamburg’s Bacao Rhythm & Steel Band has used that insta-island vibe to remake classic soul, funk and hip-hop songs. The band’s debut album, 55, includes covers of everything from 50 Cent’s “P.I.M.P.” (which originally used a steel drum sample) to Dennis Coffey’s blistering b-boy hit “Scorpio.”
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I don't know where this talk of the original pans being created from drums left by US Navy Ships came from.
That may have happened but it certainly won't have been the original drums for two obvious reasons :
1) The first pans were not oil drums
and
2) Oil has been processed in Trinidad since the late 1800s, and there has been a large oil refinery in South Trinidad since the turn of the last century , before the steel pan was created . and I know as a fact that they used standard 55gall. oil drums .
And btw , I do not really have a problem with the term "steel drum" since is more descriptive , especially to people with limited knowledge of the art-form..
And besides , I remember hearing the term "steel drum" used locally in the early days , along with" pan" before the term pan became the preferred term.
It is ironic that the ones who object to the term "beating pan" find the term "beating" objectionable , but not the word "pan", even though neither word is accurate.
If we go along with that thinking , we should be saying "playing steel-drums"
Pan people , allyuh confused !
Glenroy: How is your RECUPERATION coming? Should I look for you in the 100m finals in RIO provided the ZIKA don't stop the show? Give us a report!!!
I'm fine Claude , just the aches and pains of being old.
As you must be aware , the aging of the human body is not a pleasant thing :)
Birth of the Steel Drum/Pan
Ellie Mannette Speaks - The Steel Drum an Art Form
A steelpan is made from a steel drum.
Cecil Hinkson. Thanks Cecil. Argument settled.
Agreed, from the # 1 Bestselling Kids Almanac "The World Almanac For Kids in the Nations category. Trinidad & Tobago...Did you know? Steel drums were first made in Trinidad in the 1940s.
It's been said. "It’s good to be a recorder of FACTS, but one should penetrate its ORIGINS."
On the WEST COAST the instrument was MARKETED as the "CARIBBEAN STEEL DRUM" and hundreds of "CARIBBEAN STEELDRUM PLAYERS" (on the West Coast) made millions of dollars (collectively) under THAT BRAND over the decades.
Like allyuh want Obama to put out ah next EXECUTIVE ORDER telling people who slave their life MARKETING PAN MUSIC to stop calling it STEELDRUM MUSIC and start calling it STEELPAN MUSIC.
Is it steel drum a.k.a. pan ?, or is it Pan or Steelpan a.k.a. Steel drum ?. Which one comes first ?. The instrument was invented in Trinidad and Tobago and was named Pan. So, how could it be Steel drum a.k.a. Pan. Just trying to get something clear.
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