The Trinbagonian nation and global pan community mourns the passing of one of the most prolific steelpan arrangers, composers, recording artist and musicians of our time, Ken “Professor” Philmore.
Days after a horrific vehicular accident in Trinidad, Philmore succumbed to his injuries, multiple surgeries and heart attacks, at the San Fernando General Hospital. According to T&T Guardian, Philmore was on his way home from a gig the previous night, when his Toyota Hilux pick-up ran off the Solomon Hochoy Highway on September 24th – T&T’s Republic Day. He suffered fractured ribs and a punctured lung, after being thrown from his car. He was 58 years old.
Philmore is famously known for his epic Panorama arrangements of “Pan By Storm” (1990), “Pan Ecstasy” (1991), and “Pan in the Party” (1992). All of the aforementioned compositions won second place for VAT 19’s Fonclaire Steel Orchestra in the Panorama Finals, in those respective years. He performed for Queen Elizabeth II and received an award from former NY Mayor Koch. He has appeared with Tina Turner, Mercer Ellington and performed with Latin musical legend, Tito Puente, just to name a few. He has toured with the Duke Ellington Orchestra and performed at some of the world’s prestigious music houses, such as Carnegie Hall, The Philharmonic Hall, The Apollo Theater, Madison Square Garden and lectured on Steelpan at The Kennedy Centre, Yale University, Harvard University, Howard University and the University of the West Indies. In 1996, Pan Trinbago honored Philmore as “one of the most promising arrangers.”
As I wrote this piece, I had Professor’s legendary Pan By Storm playing in the background. Undoubtedly one of the best pan arrangements ever, it’s hard not to get goosebumps listening to the carefully orchestrated crescendos, diminuendos, entrancing runs and dynamic bursts of energy from a gifted pan ensemble, led by such an adroit leader. Professor had the North and Grand Stands, and everyone watching TTT (and now anyone watching on YouTube) totally hypnotized by his innate talent to not only construct classical pan pieces but his super power of stirring up any crowd’s deepest emotions.
True pan enthusiasts will forever call Fonclaire’s second place at Panorama Finals 1990 (a loss by 1/2 point) the biggest pan robbery in the history of Panorama. Pan By Storm was indeed an emotionally soulful piece and will be known as Professor’s greatest masterpiece, forever etched in Steelpan history and Caribbean musical culture.
I reached out to a few of my friends to share their thoughts on the loss of Ken “Professor” Philmore. Here are a few honest and heartfelt tributes by some of pan’s most recognizable talents:
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