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PAN BUZZ AWARDS  2011

After much deliberation by our judges’ panel, and endless gulps of black coffee, it is my pleasure to present the Pan Buzz Awards 2011.  First let me thank all those who sent in nominations.

The judges’ decisions are final, and no injunction, cussing or bottle-pelting, will be entertained.

Pan Song of the Year:  It’s Showtime
Arranger of the Year:   Leon “Smooth” Edwards 

Top Ten Pan Songs

1. It’s Showtime -  Edwin Pouchet/Alvin Daniell

2. Pan For Peace -  Kygel Benjamin/Sheldon Reid

3. How We Coming -  Brian “Bean” Griffith/Alvin Daniel

4. Momentum -  Don Clarke/Alvin Daniell

5. Calling Meh - Mark Loquan/Ken Philmore

6. Zhess - Dexter Keane

7. Pan Badjohn - Earl Brooks/Kurt Allen

8. Alien Steelband - Dunstan “Carwash” Lawrence

9. Bamboo Man -  Alston Jack/Chris and Samantha Jack

10. Ruction -  Jason “Peanuts” Isaac

Allan Gervais Pan Heroes Award

No tribute is too great to pay to the Dixielanders, who this year celebrated 60 years of their ground-breaking trip to England. These defenders of the Pan went up against family and friends, putting their college education on the line for pan. They won acceptance for Pan... and panmen.  They are: Hady Lee, Curtis Pierre, Billy Carpenter, Joey Ng Wai, Mervyn Telfer, Miguel Barradas, Trevor Cumberbatch, Alfred Toussaint, Lennox Totesaut, Lennox Langton, Russel Valdez, Michael “Natsi” Constant, Angela Christopher and Sonny Blacks.
 

Other awardees are: Thunderbolt Williams, Sterling Betancourt, Barrie Nanton, Elton “Smokey” John, Cyril “Nick” Boxhill and Zigilee.

International Pan Heroes Award

Terry Noel, Pepe Francis and Andy Narell

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BEST OF LUCK, SEION

Like Duvone Stewart (bptt Renegades), Señor Seion Gomez (pictured) has stepped into the big league on Pan. Seion campaigned in the Second Division of pan (Medium category), but has now been given the tough assignment with the Solo Harmonites.  Yohan Popwell has been given two bites of the cherry, but failed to deliver.  Pan arranging is becoming like football coaching, you either stand, or fall, on your results.

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“BOOGSIE” TO EAT AH FOOD

Len “Boogsie” Sharpe will eat ah food in three categories of Pan next year. He has just been given the assignment with single pan band Carib Woodbrook Playboyz.
 

In Tobago, he will eat some curry crab and dumplings with medium band Our Boys, and his biggest plate will come from his beloved Phase II Pan Groove.

My spies tell me that “Boogsie” has stopped his foolish excursion, and pitbull behaviour with Pan Trinbago, and is getting down to what he does best... music.
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Wherever you are in Pan’s world, keep loving up The Pan.

Global

“GYPSY” MUST ACCOUNT

I hope Pan people are looking at what the Trinidad & Tobago Minister of Culture, Winston “Gypsy” Peters, is doing with taxpayers’ money. Is he giving it away to friends and family?

Winston “Gypsy” Peters must tell John and Jane Public why he is getting down on Pan people, while financing - to the tune of $1.2 million dollars - his son Colin Jackman’s misadventures with soca. The recent International Soca (substitute ‘Comedy’) Awards was a disaster. “Gypsy” must account. HE MUST TELL THE PUBLIC WHY he keep pelting taxpayers’ money behind this event, but on the other hand, pressuring Pan people. My spies tell me he is on a collision course with Panmen over cut-backs in the assistance to small steelbands and single-pan bands.

Over to you, Madame Prime Minister Kamla Persad-Bissessar.
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MUSICAL EARTHQUAKE TO SHAKE T&T

A musical earthquake is about to grip Trinidad and Tobago as over twenty pan songs have fallen from the various studios.  There is a lot of lacourey surrounding Alvin Daniell’s collaboration with Edwin Pouchet. Word is that they are coming with ‘Tempo’ [Gie Dem Tempo].  Pan Buzz is anxious to hear this one, as I rate Maestro’s ‘Tempo’ as the bar. After such a sizzling song, ‘It’s Showtime,’ this year, it will be tough to climb that Everest.

Earl “The Loveman” Brooks is yet to release his bomb. When he last spoke to The Buzz, he promised something special.

Spoke to the brilliant Natasha Joseph of ‘Something Different’ fame; she sits on the sidelines this year. What a disappointment! Natasha rose to stardom with the Panazz Players, and has gone off the boil. However she is back after flying under the radar.

The bogey man, Len “Boogsie” Sharpe has returned to his old self, after waging a venomous, but foolish, campaign against Pan Trinbago honchos.  His tribute to his mentor Pat Bishop should improve his stocks in the Pan fraternity.  My spies tell me he is focused like a laser light, with eyes on the top prize.  I tell you Panorama 2012 is going to be hot, hot, hot.
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“BOLT” loses a leg

Thunderbolt Williams is under the weather these days. The popular Despers Pan personality is stricken with diabetes, and has lost a leg. However the spirit of this indomitable Pan soldier is high, as he looks to make a comeback on the world wrestling stage. Pan Buzz spoke to the pan icon of The Hill (Laventille) and Despers elder - who promised to be in the thick of things for Panorama 2012...with Despers of course.

With a contribution that spans some 50 years to Desperadoes, Thunderbolt is determined not to roll over and die.  “I intend to go as long as the Master says,” he signed off.
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ANNUAL PAN BUZZ AWARDS

Nominations have closed for the Annual Pan Buzz Awards and pretty soon judges will deliberate. Results for all the categories will be given within the first week of December. The judges’ decision is final, and anyone toting feelings will be ignored. The categories are:

• Arranger of the Year

• Pan Song of the Year

• Top Ten Pan Songs

• Allan Gervais Pan Heroes Award

• The International Pan hero Award.
  

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Wherever you are in Pan’s world, keep loving up The Pan.