The Steeldrum, or "Pan" as it
is colloquially termed, was invented on the Caribbean island
of Trinidad some time during the 1940s.
During the 1700s, British colonists had brought
slaves to the island from West Africa, from what is now Ghana
and Nigeria. The slaves brought with them as much of their
culture as they could manage, including the tradition of drumming.
Obviously the island did
not provide the same materials with which to make and maintain
drums as in Africa, and the slaves looked for substitutes.
The most obvious and widely used was lengths of bamboo stamped
on the ground or strugh together. These were known as Bamboo
Drums or "Tambour Bamboo" which became corrupted
to "Tamboo Bamboo".
The problem with Tamboo Bamboo was that after
extensive use, the bamboo split or broke. This led to a further
substitution some time in the 1930s. This time paraffin tins,
galvanised dustbins and the like were played with sticks.
Some time during the 1940s - the exact date
is not known - a guy by the name of Winston "Spree"
Simon was playing a tin as a bass drum. As he beat it repeatedly
with a stick the end of the tin gradually dented in, which
caused the pitch of the drum to sharpen. Eventually he found
himself playing a bass-drum part on a high pitched instrument.
He picked up a rock and stamped the end of the drum back out
from the inside, reasoning that if the dent was again made
flat it would regain its bass note.
Or course, the end of the drum did not return
to its flat state - instead it dented outward into three distinct
bumps. Spree discovered that each bump made a different note.
He went around playing "Mary had a little lamb"
and the first steeldrum was born.
The idea was rapidly developed and by the early
1950s the 44-gallon oil drum was the standard starting point.
Instruments had been divided into those for melody, chords,
and bass, and simple tunes or even classical music could be
performed entirely on the steeldrum. There was intense rivalry
between bands, often leading to bloodshed. The upper classes
frowned heavily on pan-man, who were seen as hoodlums at best,
and attempts were made to outlaw the instrument.
The instrument (and its image) has been
refined and improved, and a modern steelband can have anything
up to 120 members. The instruments produce a most pleasing,
clear sound, and a band has a range of nearly 5 octaves. Reportoire
ranges from brilliantly executed classical music to pop to
the vibrant calypso/soca music of Trinidad. Anyone who has
heard a steelband in full cry will agree that it has a claim
to being the 8th wonder of the world.
(Steve Lawrie 1995)
Who Are We?
This group formerly led by Keith C. St. Louis of Trinidad
and Tobago came to Virginia under the name of Trinidad
and Tobago Pan Professionals in 1994. They worked with
inner-city kids from 1994 in the Portsmouth area and continue
to do so now. One Love Caribbean Steel Drum Band is a
complete steel drum band. The band consists of five professional
steel pan drummers. Instruments include: tenors, double
seconds, guitars, six bass, and an electronic or acoustic
percussionist. Their formal and informal venues include
private parties, weddings, corporate functions, boat cruises,
school presentations, social centers, college dances and
festivals.
We specialize in wedding ceremony music, cocktail
hours, receptions, and rehearsal dinners.
They
have performed over 1000 events, from entire East Coast
from Miami to Connecticut including Musicfest in
Bethlehem, PA, Miami Carnival and the entire Hampton
Roads Area. Locally their performances include the USS
Enterprise,
USS Nimitz, HarborFest, Blackbeard Festival, Seawall
Festival, and Afram Festival. They also toured Bermuda
in December
1999 and Trinidad and Tobago Carnival in 2000. The five
talented members have earned a solid and trusted reputation
as polished professionals who have appropriate look,
sound
and attitude you expect for your event. They have an
authentic repertoire and which is appropriate for all
ages. They
can provide special request with prior notice. They have
a sweet mix of calypso, reggae and island music. Some
songs from our repertoire include:
Here
Comes The Bride
Canon
In D
Forever
In Love
Falling
In Love
Jamaica
Farewell
Over
The Rainbow
Amazing Grace
Mary
Ann
Hot
Hot Hot
Margaritaville
One Love Caribbean Steel Drum Band is available
for all occasions. They enjoy what they do and they know
you will too. Performances can be tailored to the needs
of the client and are great for parties, church programs
and meetings, as well as educational programs. If you
only want one steel drummer or a whole band we can accommodate
your needs.
Schedule
DATE
TIME
LOCATION
May
15
4:00-7:00 PM
Nicole
McCarter and Chris Stanley
Wedding Ceremony and Cocktail Hour
Audubon Dr. Corolla NC 27927 (Wedding Ceremony)
Clubhouse Dr. Corolla, NC 27927 (Cocktail Hour)
May
15
5:45-6:45 PM
Holly Needham and Kory Raker
Wedding Ceremony
Chesapeake Bay Beach, Virginia Beach
May
16
12:00-4:00 PM
31st Street Park
31st and Atlantic Ave. Virginia Beach
May
19
6:00-9:00 PM
Corporate Party
Spirit of Norfolk
May
22
5:00-6:00 PM
Jami
Blume and Doug Pictroski
Wedding Cocktail Hour
Princess Anne Country Club, 3800 Pacific Ave
May 22
5:45-6:45 PM
Alicia
Main and Bob Oberg
Wedding Ceremony and Cocktail Hourr
(Ceremony) On the beach at Hilton in Kitty Hawk, NC
May 22
6:15-8:15 PM
Lisa Wright and Joshua Littleton
Wedding Ceremony
and Cocktail Hour
Kill Devil Hills, NC and Wanchese NC
Golf Tournament
Hell’s Point Golf Course,
2700 Atwoodtown
Rd., Virginia Beach
May 29
4:45-5:45 PM
Katie Albert and Ryan McCarron
Wedding Ceremony
The Pearl
1731 North Virginia Dare
Trail, Kill Devil Hills NC
Jun 12
4:30-6:30 PM
Sarah Hill
and Travis Matthiesen
Wedding
Ceremony and Cocktail Hour
Rental House Cayman Sunset, Portside Drive
Avon NC
Jul
24
6:00-8:00 PM
Mary Anne Emerson and Sammy Ayer
Wedding Ceremony and Cocktail Hour
The Historical Chamberlin
2 Fenwick Rd. Hampton
Jun 25
7:30-8:30 PM
Brooke Fraebel and William
Van Zandt
Wedding Rehearsal Dinner
309 Water Street,
Yorktown VA
Jun 26
4:30-6:00 p.m.
Ji-Young Eun and Andy Gurry
Wedding
Ceremony for Location:
Cape Henry Inn
Beach Club in Fort Story
Jun 26
3:30-5:30 PM
Ceremony and Cocktail Hour
Ceremony
on the beach at A Shore Thing, Corolla, NC 27927
Cocktail
Hour at The Currituck Club
620 Clubhouse Drive/Cocktail
Hour Corolla, NC
I can't
thank you enough for the awesome performance. I truly
appreciate everything . . . . we've gotten so many
compliments on how the music was the most perfect
touch for the ceremony. Please let the other members
of the band know how appreciative we are and let
them know that they did an awesome job. Melissa Schurr Thornborough, Corolla,
NC
We love the band, the
music is excellent. I am glad to do a testimonial.
Please feel free to call and stop by any time you are
on the Outer Banks. Delphine Amrhein, Kill Devil Hills, NC
I am not only pleased, but impressed with One
Love Steel Drum Band! What a
talented group of musicians! Everyone at the wedding
had nothing but
wonderful things to say about you all. I feel your
music and enthusiasm made
our beach wedding that much more special. It was an
element of the day that
will NEVER be forgotten. I noticed you will be laying
on the 31st stage at the
oceanfront a few times this summer. We will be sure
to come over. Thanks again for all your hard work and
making my special day so enjoyable!!! Monica Malone
Everything was just fine. The band members were very
pleasant and played
well all evening. They were a good addition to our
theme and everyone
enjoyed them. Milly Wassum
"The sounds of the drums were
beautiful. The steel drums made the party. I felt
like I was in
the islands. The ladies came right on time. They played
songs that everyone knew. I now know who to call when
I need steel drummers for an event. Thank you very
much." Alicia Riley, Newport News VA
"The
band was wonderful. The band members are so nice and
all our guests enjoyed the selection
of
music. My son said it was the best party ever and loved
the music. It was so nice to drive up after graduation
and to see the band set up and ready to play. I was
so glad I did not have to worry about anything. Your
band members looked so professional with matching shirts
and truly gave us their all. We look forward to having
you for another event and will highly recommend One
Love Caribbean Steel Drum Band. Thank you for the wonderful
graduation memories." Babs Szycher, Virginia Beach (Great Neck), VA
"The band was fantastic. Really made the
party. They set up early and got right to it. Thank
the drummers
for me." Carrie Weston, Norfolk VA
"You guys did a wonderful job! I tell everyone
that the band was my favorite part of the wedding.
Everyone said they just enjoyed listening to the music
and a few asked me if you sold CD's. Also someone told
me that people from the other wedding were coming over
to listen to you guys. One Love is a great band and
my favorite part of my wedding! Your performance at
our wedding left an everlasting memory on me and my
husband and for everyone that attended. I wish I would
of booked you guys for the entire wedding not just
the ceremony." Kathy Draper, Grafton, VA
"The music was great and ALL our guests really
enjoyed the band; they kept asking how I found a steel
band in VA Beach. Two hours really set the tone of
the evening, and the quality of the music was certainly
worth the price. Again, I loved the sound; I'll clearly
recommend One Love in the future." Michael Moore Virginia Beach (Pembroke) VA
