/“An historic, exciting, and memorable occasion,” was how George Matthew, director of Caribbean Airlines Ltd (CAL) Invaders Steel Orchestra, described the launch of the book Invaders Steel Orchestra: The History of a Legendary Trinidad Steelband that took place at the President’s Box in the Queen’s Park Oval, Woodbrook, yesterday.
“This is a must-read for anyone with an avid interest in the steelband movement in T&T, and is a valuable piece of history you should have in your home,” he said, in a welcome address to attendees.
The book, started more than eight years ago, was written by Dr Jeanine Remy, senior lecturer at the Department of Creative and Festival Arts (DCFA), University of the West Indies, St Augustine campus, and Ray Funk, retired Alaskan trial judge and Carnival historian and researcher.
The launch was part of the legendary steel orchestra’s week-long 75th anniversary celebrations.
The 700-plus pages of the missive look beyond the history of the Woodbrook-based steel orchestra, and is itself a history of the steelband movement seen through the eyes of the members of Invaders.
In delivering the feature address at the function Remy revealed a startling and unknown bit of information that came to light during the many interviews with the pioneers and elders of the band.
“We heard from one of them that Boysie Singh (arguably the most notorious thief, arsonist, gambler, pirate, smuggler, and mass murderer in the history of T&T) once hid a cache of guns under the famous breadfruit tree in the panyard for the members to use against Tokyo Steel Orchestra members with whom there was an ongoing war.
But that never happened because Ellie Mannette, then bandleader, had more sense than that,” she said.
Remy added that the authors faced a challenging task in compiling and sorting out the many views of the elders who contributed to the literary work in order to faithfully chronicle the history and contributions made by Invaders to the steelband movement.
MORE ACTIVITIES
Other celebratory activities for the week include a photographic exhibition, opened yesterday at the Queen’s Park Oval and ending on Wednesday; a Gala Awards ceremony on Sunday at Movietowne, Invaders Bay; and a traditional J’Ouvert jump-up in Woodbrook on Republic Day starting at 5 am from the band’s Tragarete Road panyard. CAL Invaders Steel Orchestra received a national award, the Chaconia Medal (Gold), in 1996, for its contribution to culture.
Many of the innovators in pan music came out of Invaders, among them composer Ray Holman; noted genius at improvisation, Emmanuel “Cobo Jack” Riley; and Errol Zephyrine, a well-known master at orchestration.
In addition, some of Invaders’ players have found fame abroad. They include Clifford Alexis at Northern Illinois University and Dawn Batson at Florida International University; jazz pannist Othello Molineaux; and legendary jazz bassist David “Happy” Williams.