By the nineteen seventies,carnival masqueraders were complaining about the steelbands' limited repertoire and overall lack of preparation for the road.On the other hand, steelbands felt unappreciated and underpaid for their contributions to the carnival and the culture.The steelband strike of 1979 was the perfect storm, and presented the ideal opportunity for the DJs to establish themselves as the alternative to the steelbands for the carnival revelry.In his calypso "No Pan", Kitch describes what it was like to experience the first carnival of the steelband era without pan.This has become pretty much the norm since then.From the album, "Lord Kitchener Classics Vol. 2 - Kitchener Forever", this is Kitch's description of Carnival 1979 when the steelbands went on strike and there was no pan on the road.
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Another classic by the Grandmaster himself. Excellent Lyrics and "Jumpy Music. Änother excellent submission by Glenroy James. Keep up the good work my brother. I am a strong lover of Kitch's music. He is "Simply Wondeful as per the theme of one of his LPs.
Incidentally, does anyone have the words and music for the song "Yuh Cyar Plant Cane"? Who sang that song?
Keep up the great work "Pan Times""and "When Steel Talks"
As calypsonians will, Kitch does take poetic license with the incident for effect.
After all, I doubt that Shell Invaders were hiding behind a wall, or that All Stars were playing cards in their Bus Stand Compound.
But the facts are there was a steelband strike in 1979 and, with the exception of Desperadoes appearance on stage on Tuesday, steelbands refused to participate in any organised carnival events, including Panorama.
Though not the cause, this event helped to solidify the role of the DJs and weaken the dominant role of the pan in carnival, as the DJs stepped in to fill the vacuum.
The story is very much like professional sports in the US.
As popular as baseball is in the US, after the players went on strike yeas ago, it took years, and the excitement of the steroid fueled home run chase for baseball to recover.
A similar situation could occur with the NBA and NFL, and I would strongly suggest that steelband organizations outside T&T take a lesson!
TRUE PEOPLES' BAND.......DESPERADOES FOREVER.......I remember when THE BIG BAND GRACE THE SAVANNAH STAGE........In fact I was on stage as part of the television crew TTT.....
dere was pan on de road . . but no pan . .except 4 Despers . . on de Savanah stage . . we still had ah ball . . an dey announce all de bans . . buh mos ah we who com tru de savana , din play on stage . . only Despers . .
Comments
Another classic by the Grandmaster himself. Excellent Lyrics and "Jumpy Music. Änother excellent submission by Glenroy James. Keep up the good work my brother. I am a strong lover of Kitch's music. He is "Simply Wondeful as per the theme of one of his LPs.
Incidentally, does anyone have the words and music for the song "Yuh Cyar Plant Cane"? Who sang that song?
Keep up the great work "Pan Times""and "When Steel Talks"
More Power tp Calypso and Pan!
After all, I doubt that Shell Invaders were hiding behind a wall, or that All Stars were playing cards in their Bus Stand Compound.
But the facts are there was a steelband strike in 1979 and, with the exception of Desperadoes appearance on stage on Tuesday, steelbands refused to participate in any organised carnival events, including Panorama.
Though not the cause, this event helped to solidify the role of the DJs and weaken the dominant role of the pan in carnival, as the DJs stepped in to fill the vacuum.
The story is very much like professional sports in the US.
As popular as baseball is in the US, after the players went on strike yeas ago, it took years, and the excitement of the steroid fueled home run chase for baseball to recover.
A similar situation could occur with the NBA and NFL, and I would strongly suggest that steelband organizations outside T&T take a lesson!
TRUE PEOPLES' BAND.......DESPERADOES FOREVER.......I remember when THE BIG BAND GRACE THE SAVANNAH STAGE........In fact I was on stage as part of the television crew TTT.....
dere was pan on de road . . but no pan . .except 4 Despers . . on de Savanah stage . . we still had ah ball . . an dey announce all de bans . . buh mos ah we who com tru de savana , din play on stage . . only Despers . .
"All of a sudden, the announcer disclose,
Ladies and Gents, here come Desperadoes!"