One of the greatest unsung contributors to Caribbean music is pan and reggae pioneer, the late Mr Nerlin Taitt from San Fernando.
An outstanding pan player who also did some tuning, he was the winning soloist in the island wide ping pong (tenor pan ) competition of 1956.
He was also an outstanding guitarist and band leader in Trinidad, playing with the Dutchy Brothers Orchestra and fronting his own band, the Nerlin Taitt Orchestra.
Stranded in Jamaica after an unsuccessful tour in the early 1960s, he remained there to become one of the founders of the new beat "rock steady" which evolved into reggae.
This link is to an article from tallawah.com, which celebrates the life and accomplishments of this Trinidadian who was an outstanding panist, and one of the most important contributors to the development of reggae music.
http://tallawah.com/articles-reviews/lynn-taitt/
Nerlin (Nearlin) "Lynn" Taitt died on January 20th, 2010. Here is a link to Mr Taitt's obituary in the UK Guardian .
http://www.guardian.co.uk/music/2010/feb/10/nearlin-lynn-taitt-obituary
Comments
I believe he was the inventor of the Ska which turned into the Rock Steady and finally into the Reggae. So that's the reason. his name may not have been mentioned. Most people of don't know the evolution of Reggae Music. When Lord Shorty aka Ras Shorty I, invented Soca, he said it was the Soul of Calypso Music. So like Soca. Reggae is the soul of the Ska. Many Jamaicans heard of him but they did not know he was a Trinidadian. Just like many Trinidadians don't know that Bradley and Belfast arranged many of Byron Lee hits. Di you know the Iron man playing on Byron Lee's River Bank Jump up was a Chinee's Jamaican? So all you mocking pretenders in case you don't know Reggae is a Trini Ting too Man. A bit of History lessons for those of you who don't know the first Steel Orchestra to play a Rock Steady tune, Ride your Donkey was the BWIA Sun Jets in 1969 at the University of the West Indies Campus in Mona, Jamaica. and had thousands dancing to the sound of Steel.
In the photo featured in the Dutchy Brothers video "Riverbank Jump-up" , you would note a picture of San Fernando's legendary pan player and guitarist Nerlin Taitt.
You should also note that Nerlin Taitt later became internationally renowned as the leader and lead guitarist of the Jamaican rock steady group "Lynn Taitt and the Jets" .
Taitt is acknowledged to be one of the creators of the rock steady beat , which was a precursor of reggae.
This is a small tribute I wrote in his remembrance.
I got to share a piece of history with you, word is that Nerlin Taitt is the Founding Father of Reggea, Most of the Jamaicans did not know that he was Trinidadian, he was known as lynn Taitt. I was in Jamaica on tour with the BWIA Sun Jets in the late sixties, when the transformation was taking place. At that time Lord Bryner was also living there and tearing up the place in the night clubs. Sun Jets were featured on Jamaica Televison and performed at a dance at the Mona University Campus with Byron Lee and Carlos Malcom before thousands. The they were amazed to hear us play Ride your Donkey, we was the first Steel Orchestra to play the Rock Steady. That's when I first heard of him, you see its not only Pan and Calypso but Reggae too is we thing.
I was a friend of lynn Taitt,being a Pam Man myself we shared a lot of stories whenever we met.We did not meet because of Pan however, for I never knew he was associated with Pan. We met through Calypso.He did some arrangements on some of my tunes for my CD entitled "THIS IS CALYPSO" They were recorded at his Studio.We spoke at length about his involvement and contribution with Jamaica Music.That guy was great,you had to be in a studio with him to recognize his greatness.He did some very good work on my CD. I am wondering, this calypso CD maybe one of a kind as far as his arranging Calypso Music to back a Calypsonian.
WEB.
Stanley was the Captain of Rapsody Steel Band
Stanley Warner Was a Good pan tuner that work from San Juan to Toco He was one of the best in the sixtys .
do you know Stanley Warner?
Thanks for remembering Lyn Taitt (of the Jets). I recently viewed a BBC special called "The Reggae Story", I was amazed to discover that they had already erased him from the history of reggae!!! His name was NEVER mentioned in the two hour special!!!!! Long live Nerlyn Taitt, serious Trinbagonian musician!!!!
I used to party to his album "Lyn Taitt and The Jets" one with him posing with his guitar on the cover (before the days of Reggae, it was Rock Steady then!!!
I did not know that lynn taitt was my country man ,i used to go to a club called baby grand in jamaica where his band at that time was called lynn taitt and the comets,then he changed the name to lynn taitt and the jets.That man was a well known name in jamaica among all the musicians. he backed up people like johnny nash in HOLD ME TIGHT,,
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