Theodore Lewis
The pan aficionado will recognise the title of this column as coming from Kitchener in his song “Sweet Pan”. Of course, Renegades played it in the 1984 Panorama and won. What I am setting out to do here ultimately is to declare what I believe to have been the top ten Panorama performances of all time, going back to the beginning in 1963. Now I don’t want any trouble. I realise that this is a serious matter. Some will say what Lewis know ’bout pan, he can’t play. That is true. I beat a tenor in Mausica, but nobody remembers that because I was ordinary. But I pushed pan for Southern Marines and that counts.
Now you don’t necessarily have to be a winner to get in my top ten, as you will see. Here then are the top ten Panorama performances, in chronological order (not order of merit).
I start from 1963, the first Panorama, and work my way to 2019. They are:
• Pan Am North Stars, 1963 — Dan is the Man”;
• Guinness Cavaliers, 1965 — “Melody Mas”;
• Solo Harmonites, 1968 — “The Wrecker”;
• Desperadoes, 1976 — “Pan in Harmony” (Pan in honey);
• Third World, 1977 — “Gold”;
• Starlift, 1978 — “Dudu Yemi”;
• Trinidad All Stars, 1980 — “Woman on the Bass”;
• Renegades, 1984 — “Sweet Pan”;
• Phase II, 1986 — “Pan Rising” (Boog-sie’s best tune);
• Fonclaire, 1990 — “Pan by Storm” (Ken ‘Professor’ Philmore)
Lord Melody "MAS" (1965)
Guinness Cavaliers- Lord Melody's "Mas" ( T&T Steelband Panorama winners 1965)
Replies
All these selections are great, I believe Starlift 1978 gave the best overall final panorama performance by miles. The crowd reaction was insane. No argument that night about who won.
Yes Patrick, early days in Wash DC hearing Pan in the Parties...
Starlift - Natasha (Du Du Yemi)
Who can remember Blockorama?
Flamingoes (Exodus) - Black Man's Cry
Lord Kitchener, Sweet Pan
Renegades - Kitch's "Sweet Pan" arr. by Jit
In 1984 , the Final night of Panorama featured a number of outstanding performances , but this classic Jit Samaroo arrangement of Lord Kitchener's "Sweet Pan" as performed by Renegades Steel Orchestra was the eventual winner . This was one of many winning performances by the Jit Samaroo / Renegades combination which formed a musical dynasty that was so very successful in dominating the Panorama competition in the 1980s and 1990s. From Panorama Finals night at the Queens Park Savannah in 1984, here is the Renegades Steel Orchestra and Jit's Samaroo's winning arrangement of Lord Kitchener's " Sweet Pan". GJ