Who has the answer to Kim Johnson's question?

Yesterday, journalist and author, Kim Johnson, posted a clip on Facebook, of Esso Tripoli, and posed the question: "In the 50s-90s, whenever steelbands travelled abroad, leading players jumped ship, to the loss of pan in T&T. Why on earth did they do that?" I believe this to be a very relevant question, and you can all view the thread (if you're on Facebook), at https://www.facebook.com/permalink.php?story_fbid=132790660132983&id=603357980&notif_t=share_reply What are your views? Do you see it as "jumping ship"? And, if so, is "jumping ship" such a bad decision to make? Should one remain on board, and go down with the sinking vessel, like the big band did on the Titanic? Keep playing? Or, rather, seek self (and family) preservation? In answering some of those questions, our consciences begin to confront us, and we are forced to make the decision of choosing between honesty and hypocritical positioning based on sociopolitical and "business" self-seeking interests. For if we choose to "honestly" take a look at the (true) history of the "steelband movement" (and Carnival as cultural ritual, in general), a clearer picture of class-separation, religious and political marginalization, and a "culture" where individualism, "white-collar crime", corruption, and socio-political juxtaposing are "handsomely" rewarded, The dilemma we (all) face as "panists", is in choosing to respect and have the (assumed) common decency, to look (forward) into the past, and ascend to the musical levels of those truly dedicated to the instruments they claim to love, and in that ascension understand that there are many past pioneers (both alive and passed on) who, though they may not have been the best musicians, became pan's GREATEST and most-dedicated fighters, leaders, organizers and diplomats. We must come to realize the roles of race, class, religious, political, and gender separation (among other "dividers"), in the expatriation of Trinidad & Tobago's finest artistes, but, further, we must also be able to recognize and honor the courage of those who did not (as Kim puts it) "jump ship". Anyone who knows me, know that I have absolutely no respect for the narcissist panist; for my "cultural" alignment is with the holistic collective, and not with materialistic individualism. I honor my father, George "Sonny" Goddard, who (the history shows) was dedicated enough to stay on board and was not afraid to grab the helm, and, at the beacon call of a scared and confused crew, captain a ship through the torrent waters of the social unrest of the early fifties in pre-independence Trinidad & Tobago. "It was bacchanal, 1950 Carnival. Fite fuh so, with Invaders and Tokyo. When de two ban's clash, mama yo, if yuh see cutlass. Never me again, to jump in ah steelban' in Port Of Spain. Aye!" Lord Blakie. Biah. Ah. Ah. Ah. (Ah still miss that laugh.) We as "Trinbagonians", have been blessed; that out of the gutters of the tenement yards and ghetto slums of Trinidad, came the WORLD's most-enigmatic instrument. That, after over 75 years, the steel drum/pan still draws the amazement of the curious and bewildered listener, even the "seasoned" pan lovers! I am sure that most of you still experience onlookers who want to look underneath your instrument. Almost EVERY Caribbean county's ads on tourism utilizes its look and sound. In contrast, Jamaica holds the lifetime "trademark" for her reggae music (and rightfully, so.) I chose not to get too involved in the history at this time, since it is my belief, that you all owe our pan pioneers the respect they deserve, by doing your own research and going through your own process of self-discovery. There are still numerous sources. My advice: seek the primary sources, and be sure to corroborate evidence. Yours In Pan, George D. Goddard

George Goddard in 1965.JPG

Kim's basic question is not being answered. Most response seems to be going off on tangents and not getting to the gist of what is being asked. Correct me if I am wrong. My understanding of the question is, WHY WHEN BANDS TRAVELLED ABROAD MEMBERS WERE IN THE HABIT OF JUMPING SHIP? The idea that anyone jumped ship to spread the artform sounds noble but it is a croc of garbage. There were several reasons but I will briefly only touch on two of the more common ones. (1) Ecomnomic Opportunity: This was a time when individuals were travelling abroad to bascially seek out a better life for themselves. For most panmen at that time you might not be able to afford a trip abroad or you might not even be able to get a visa. Here comes an opportunity to travel with a band. To some panmen this presented the best opportunity to go abroad. When they got there they decided to stay because another oppotunity might not come again. (2) Badly planned trips: I can tell you from experience that back then some trips were so badly planned, panmen caught hell when they arrived at their destination. It seems like in the euphoria of a pending steelband trip, common sense and better judgement sometimes went out of the window. It addtion, there were several incidences where promises made to steelbands were not kept when they arrived at their destination. In these instances most often panmen had to fend for themselves, bands got fragmented and by the time of the scheduled return trips some players could not be found. Actual there are some pan officianados that subscribes to the idea that my second reason was a contributing factor in the demise of the great Panam North Stars. No good guy, no bad guy, just bad situations. Peace!

Replies

Terry Samuel June 30, 2011 at 10:52am

George Goddard jr from your writing you do not understand TRINI mentality. TRINIS do not put anybody on a Pedestal recenly I was liming on Frederick Street the great Brian Lara walk pass us my friend said to me if this was in India people all over Brian for an autograph. TRINIS are a different bunch of species - do your good work and leave your legacy.

Sidd gave you some good advice develop a simple website and post the good work your father did for the steelband movement for the world to see.
- Pan'tum - The Ghost Who Talks > Terry Samuel June 30, 2011 at 2:29pm
  
  I cannot understand what is so difficult to just stick to the topic, and leave me out of it. What is a "TRINI mentality"? We have all different kinds of races, classes, religions, and beliefs, and you are narrow-minded into believing that we are one psychological and spiritual homogeneous group. For clarity: I am a born and bread "TRINI", and not a product of the political importation of Grenadians and other "small islanders" for votes. I also cannot comprehend how you can say with pride (or a straight face, for that matter) that we don't "put anybody on a Pedestal". What do you call the thing the holds up the statutes of Cipriani and Lord Kitchener? Isn't naming a street or a plane after someone practically putting them on one? Finally, you have no clue as to my works, and nothing I do is "simple". The ONLY thing "simple" is your juvenile attempt at sarcasm, and, if your mind were not "simple", you would have stayed out of the conversation, unless you intended to respond to the topic, and not the messenger. I agree, if you say that we don't put the right people on "pedestals", and that may explain the deterioration of Trinidad & Tobago society. Every culture needs visual (tangible) reminders of their greatness, potential, proven successes, and examples of others who lived up to those ideals. I will, again (I think you all sub-consciously love to hear me say this), continue to post my thoughts, ideas, comments, etc., on this, and ANY website on which I am invited to. And who doh like it can kiss my black pepper shaker! lol
  - Foy Barnes > Pan'tum - The Ghost Who Talks June 30, 2011 at 2:53pm
    
    Hi George, just a word of advice from someone who is a fan of mammoth proportions of your father. I have read his book twice over and the reason for the diminished degree of recognition lies within those pages.You know the truth, the world knows the truth so JUST LET IT GO. This is bigger than you. In addition, some of the contributors to the discussion that you are locking horns with does not have a clue. Do not fan the fire by keeping on responding. Remember two things. 1) THE BATTLE MIGHT BE LONG, BUT IT CAN'T BE FOREVER. 2) THERE IS NONE SO BLIND AS THOSE WHO REFUSE TO SEE. I do sincerely hope that some day I get an opportunity to sit down and have a one-on-one with you. It would be good for us to bounce some historical facts and fiction off of each other. Peace!
    - Pan'tum - The Ghost Who Talks > Foy Barnes June 30, 2011 at 4:13pm
      
      Thanks for the encouraging wise words of advice, Foy. You are correct, and I will take heed. By nature, I always feel the need to defend myself against libel and slander, and, honestly, I'm actually getting a kick out of it. Regardless, I have them talking about George "Sonny" Goddard, and, any publicity is good publicity. Now the ignorant and misinformed know the name, and the fiery debate it brings. Hopefully, they do the research, and that is all I can ask for. I sat silent for 25+ years, and now is the time for TRUTHS to be told, regardless of where the chips may fall. There are going to be those who preferred I kept silent, but what I do know, from my experience on Facebook, there are MANY who support me in their silence, and appreciate that I speak in honor of them, for they understand the extent of George's love for our country and our culture. Hence, he was also in the Calypsonians' Assiciation, the CDC, and even the Aranguez Pagwa Association. He was loved as much in Tobago (thanks KP), as he was in Trinidad. I also hope that I can meet with as many in the "pan fraternity", including those who disagree with me, as long as they are sincere in their commitment to the improvements in the quality of life of local (proletarian) panists, and in the preservation and protection of our national instrument. We will get the most out of us, if we attend to those who have the less among us. I have been fortunate to be able to make some sort of living as a panist, and I long for the day that my counterpart in Trinidad can one day say the same thing, and not be the exception to the rule. I long to see an end to exploitation of the local panist, and hope that any student I have will command a knowledge and appreciation for those who laid the foundation. Anyway, thanks again, Foy. Peace.
Pan'tum - The Ghost Who Talks June 28, 2011 at 11:44am

Question: Where did I state that I see it as "jumping ship"? I thought I was clear in making my point, but apparently not. So, here is the abridged edition:

If we can understand and empathize with the person who chooses to migrate for family's sake, we should ALSO be able to honor and respect the person that chooses to remain for his countryman (and woman)'s sake. George "Sonny" Goddard chose the latter route.

Those are my points, and my ONLY position I stated is that I have MORE respect for the person who puts the collective over the individual. What is so difficult to understand that those are my points and position? What is so offensive?

So it is okay for you all to be offended that for a few days I included my dad's name, but cannot understand why I am offended that it has been omitted and forgotten? People in group situations react very interestingly. Like a pack of hyenas on the lonesome, wandering lion, waiting to rip into my flesh! You ALL will have to wait, for I am not yet wounded and bleeding. I guess I'll have to identify your alpha-male, and attack from the head. Like Simba, I was prepared for this moment. Thanks dad. ROAR!!! lmao. (You will NEVER weaken or silence me!)
Andre-Roger Dellevi June 28, 2011 at 10:05am

Migration takes place for many reasons... Some "jump ship" and stay, others return "home"... Who remember when my cuz sang about his feelings on this... http://music.napster.com/andre-tanker-and-the-mansa-musa-drummers-m... Peace!!!
Glenroy R Joseph June 27, 2011 at 7:21pm

I think we're making this way too complicated. You may call it "Jumping ship" if you wish, but bands probably broke up abroad for the same reasons that the did in Trinidad, be it clashing egos, financial disputes or the desire to move on and do something different.

There also may have been, to put it mildly, a lack of clarity in arrangements, financial and otherwise between promoters, bandleaders and players.

Add to that was the reality that enterprising panists became aware of opportunities for bettering themselves that they did not have back home, and when these opportunities became available they took advantage of them.

Some of these opportunities may have been in music, or just a matter of getting a decent job.

I don't know about you guys, but many of the panmen that I knew back then weren't doing that well in Trinidad,and , to quote Lord Kitchener from his calypso "No Pan"(though it may be politically incorrect today)

"Steelbandman have woman to mind,too!"
- Foy Barnes > Glenroy R Joseph June 30, 2011 at 1:13pm
  
  This response is NOT to any specific comment, just a general statement. It seems like most people have a problem with the term "JUMPING SHIP". They see it as something negative, something degrading. Please do not read anything into it. IT IS JUST A PHRASE. No negative connotation whatsoever. Interestingly enough, we seem to be down-grading the individuals that were guilty of this act, but the practice still occurs in different situations today and no big deal is made of it. The Olympics is a perfect example. From day one athletes from Eastern Block countries have been defecting when they represent their countries abroad. Is there any difference between a panman that does this and the Russian or Cuban athlete, that goes to the Olympics and decides he is NOT going back home. It is exactly the same situation. This not only happens in sports. I can remember seeing a Russian Ballet Company performing here in the states and later learnt that half of the troupe decided they were not going back. Think about it! Same situation for the same reason.
- Cecil hinkson > Glenroy R Joseph June 29, 2011 at 7:21pm
  
  And some ate "white meat" lol
Foy Barnes June 27, 2011 at 1:17pm

Kim's basic question is not being answered. Most response seems to be going off on tangents and not getting to the gist of what is being asked. Correct me if I am wrong. My understanding of the question is, WHY WHEN BANDS TRAVELLED ABROAD MEMBERS WERE IN THE HABIT OF JUMPING SHIP? The idea that anyone jumped ship to spread the artform sounds noble but it is a croc of garbage. There were several reasons but I will briefly only touch on two of the more common ones. (1) Ecomnomic Opportunity: This was a time when individuals were travelling abroad to bascially seek out a better life for themselves. For most panmen at that time you might not be able to afford a trip abroad or you might not even be able to get a visa. Here comes an opportunity to travel with a band. To some panmen this presented the best opportunity to go abroad. When they got there they decided to stay because another oppotunity might not come again. (2) Badly planned trips: I can tell you from experience that back then some trips were so badly planned, panmen caught hell when they arrived at their destination. It seems like in the euphoria of a pending steelband trip, common sense and better judgement sometimes went out of the window. It addtion, there were several incidences where promises made to steelbands were not kept when they arrived at their destination. In these instances most often panmen had to fend for themselves, bands got fragmented and by the time of the scheduled return trips some players could not be found. Actual there are some pan officianados that subscribes to the idea that my second reason was a contributing factor in the demise of the great Panam North Stars. No good guy, no bad guy, just bad situations. Peace!

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