The organizers of Pan on D Avenue honoured 12 arrangers of the National Instrument of Trinidad and Tobago on August 23rd 2014. This Pan Parade was first held in 2012.
Because of the late start, the hostess could not mention some of the accomplishments of these 12 arrangers, and some of the awards were not presented on the air. These are some of the language I was looking forward on hearing about three of the arrangers who led a Steel Orchestra to Panorama victory in the 1960's..
(A) Mr. Lennox "Bobby" Mohamed at 22 years of age in 1965 was and still is the youngest person to become a winning Panorama arranger. (B) He is the first from the Southern region to lead his Steel Orchestra, Cavaliars to 2 victories and the first arranger to be in the top-three positions for 4 consecutive years, 1965 through 1969. (Bobby and band were not in Trinidad for the 1968 Panorama) (C) In 1967, Mr. Mohamed became the first arranger to qualify his band at a Classical Music Festival with his own composition, "Revelations From Beyond"
(A) Mr. Earl Rodney is the first arranger to lead his band, Hamonites to 3 Panorama victories in the years 1968, 1971 and 1972 (B) Mr. Rodney is also the first to lead his band to the top-three positions, 5 times from 1968 through 1973.
(A) Mr. Ray Holman led Starlift to 2 Panorama wins in 1969 and 1971 ((B) Although Ray did not arrange in 1965, he led Starlift to 6 top-threes from 1964 to 1972. (C) Starlift is the only Steel Orchestra to qualify for the first 11 Panorama finals, 1963 through 1973, and Ray was part of 10 of them. (D) Ray Holman won the 1964 Soloists Category at the Music Festival (E) In 1972, Mr. Holman became the first arranger to compose a tune that also placed in the top-three (F) In 2013, Mr. Holman became the only arranger to qualify 8 different Steel Orchestras in all 6 decades of Panorama.
The other 9 honourees were Mr. Steve Achaiba, Dr. Jit Samaroo, Mr. Pellham Goddard, The late Mr. Edwin Pouchet, Mr. Ken "Professor" Philmore, Mr. Earl Brooks, Mr. Terrence "BJ" Marcelle, Mr. Duvone Stewart and Mrs. Michelle Huggings-Watts.
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Comments
Actually the Woodbrook/St. James Community Association awarded 16 Top Arrangers. The four missing Arrangers were Leon Smooth Edwards; Len Boogsie Sharpe; Robert Greenidge and a special award to Desmond Waithe. Although it was perceived that the event started late, it didn't. the trailer carrying the Arrangers, the Mayor, the Minister, Pan Trinbago and our Association representative moved off promptly at 6:30pm from De Verteuil Street and made its way up the Avenue accompanied by Traditional Characters etc.
Some of the Arrangers were not in attendance so they were not presented with their awards which included a Plaque donated by Simon's Musical Supplies and M.A. Nadur Trophies, a Cheque, a hamper from Nestle and an Executive Medical from Medical Associates to some of them. The bios of the Arrangers were made available before-hand.
Pan on D ' Avenue IV will be held on August 22nd, 2015. Pan Tuners and Pan Manufacturers(Makers) will be awarded then.