Trinidad & Tobago Guardian
Trinidad & Tobago, W.I. - It was an occasion for reminiscing by several elders of the steelband movement, an entity that represents the most interesting and inspiring developments in grass-roots musical creation and culture. The venue was Pan Connoisseurs Pan Theatre on the Western Main Road, St James, on Saturday afternoon where they gathered to commemorate the 60th anniversary of the Point Cumana Boys Town Steel Orchestra’s winning the first Steelband Music Festival on March 11, 1952.
The festival was an introductory steelband category in the biannual Music Festival hosted by the Trinidad Music Association. It was staged at the Globe Cinema in Port-of-Spain where the band was required to play the test piece Under The Marabella Bridge and a tune of choice, for which it chose the selection You Are My Heart's Delight.
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@ Patrick Ramdoo. Please call me at (954) 496-5005. Clement is fine, he is working in Trinidad. Thanks
Dec'd Clem Bellarand was captain of Boys Town at one time but his name is not mentioned. Strange! Leo "slinger" James was a tenor player with the band but his name is not mentioned. Was there a split in the band? What was the last year BoysTown came on the road? We need to hear more of the history of the band. The prize must have been a "silver cup".
Congratulations to "The Powers That Be" for highlighting Boys Town Steelband, the winner of the first Music Festival.
I have a recording of Boys Town, but their victory tunes are part of the reperatoire.
The following are the 19 tunes:
"Thieving Bajan Policeman" - "Kiss My Pan Baby" - "Fever In Town" - "I Am Going away With The Lord" - "The La La Key" "The Girl In The Mirror" - "29 Port Of Spain" - "Matilda" - "Jean and Diana" - "Brown Skin Girl" - "Mama Says" - "Valerie" "More Mambo" - "The Last Mambo" - "Moonia" - "Jumbo Mambo" - "On Parade" - "Master Planter" and "Trinidad Castillian"
They are all 1950's recordings.
PS; I read that no one could remember what was the winning prize at that 1952 competition.
That I can believe, but I would not believe that answer came from any of the pannist that performed in 1952.
How can one get a copy of the recording? How's Clement doing?
Congratulations Boys Town on your Anniversary. Your Victory in the 1952 Music Festival was
certainly a "Breakthrough" for the Steelband Movement. Thanks Mr. Ian Franklin for this bit of Steelband
History.
Hats off to the Point Cumana Boys Town Steel Orchestra.
@ Mrs. De Coteau, thanks for the comment. Mr. Valentine AKA "Inchhigh" said he was going to show my book to you. Please advise.
Thanks.
Big Up my St. James Massive!!! Will always remember the St. James (bring out the vat 19) Tripolians gathering for pan-round-the-neck jamming iron through the streets on New Year's Day, before heading to the races at QPS.