Trinidad Express Newspapers
Port-of-Spain, Trinidad & Tobago, W.I. - Despite the fact that they are not sure if they still have a sponsor, Skiffle Steel, of Coffee Street, San Fernando, came to Charlotte Street in Port of Spain and gave northerners a treat with their music on Tuesday evening.
Skiffle Steel’s sponsorship contract with Junior Sammy Group of Companies came to an end in March and since then there has been no indication from the company if they will continue as sponsors of the band or renew the contract.
This did not seem to weigh on the players’ minds when they got to bp Renegades’ first-ever Labour Day Kaiso and Steel concert.
The event also featured calypsonians Crazy and Explainer along with Supanovas Steel Orchestra, Republic Bank Exodus, Skiffle Steel and host Renegades.
Skiffle’s repertoire included “Whole Wide World”, “Georgia” and “I want to Make Love to You”, which had patrons singing and dancing, as well as their 2013 Panorama song “The Dream” and Andy Narell’s “Coffee Street”.
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So tell me this,If Junior Sammy Group is not going to sponsor Skiffle.That will mean that Ray would not be arranging
for the band next year,And I heard that Ray got a 3years contact arrange for Skiffle.
Ray is from the old school, when comes to Pan music money is not the #1 factor
Bede, Ray is not the "old school", he is the "new school". It goes back to Glenroy's topic. Is steelband, art, culture or business? If we are to preserve the art or the culture, we got to reward those who are helping to preserve it. Steelband is not a freeness. If you choose to give away your talents for free, then you are missing out. Almost everyone who contributes to making Panorama a success - the carpenter, electrician, administrator, vendors, reporters, photographer, even the nuts man - are rewarded for their services. Why condemn Ray because he is askng for his just dues? Are you aware of the time, thought and creativity which goes into producing a Panorama tune?
Until we get out of the mind set, that we are doing this simply for the love, panists will not be able to become entrepreneurs. You can love the art, the culture, but as the saying goes, "Pay me with bread, because credit dead", and nothing is wrong with dat!
Bede, Ray is not "Old School", he is "New School". We are back to Glenroy's topic. Should steelband be seen as art, culture of business? If we are to preserve the art, the culture, then those involved in the preservation should be rewarded or compensated for their services. Steelbands cannot be forever begging, sponsors or donors at sometime are going to get fed-up doling out money.
We have to get out of the old school mentality, steelband is not freeness.
David De, Ray and Skiffle is like crackers and cheese they go good together. Skiffle seem like one of the better run steelbands in T&T, they won't have any problems attracting a sponsor, as for Ray when I saw him carnival time he was happy working with all those young people, I have no doubt that he will be back with Skiffle, the stage is set for his 1st Panorama win with his own tune.
Skiffle remove "Bunch" when they got Junior Sammy "Group" sponsorship, now that the "Group" contract is up I hope they go back to being a "Bunch." It is always nice to see people singing and dancing to steelband music, this is how it was back in the day, I think over the years people got desensitize to pan music in fetes it's time to start back.