Pan stigma
They were from a generation that did not fully embrace the steelpan, its history and significance to the country, and like many in their social standing in the community, they applied a stigma to this beautiful instrument.
Learning the steelpan would have meant you had to dodge gunfire, ganja dealers and "bad dogs" to get to classes and I could just hear that dissenting voice of my grandmother ringing in my ears.
And this is despite my childhood secret crush on David Rudder and this national legend being a dear friend of my late Grandfather Robbie.
But then I grew up and made my own musical decisions – all of which to this day largely centre around jazz and steelpan music.
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