In a live interview on Wack Radio 90.1 FM, San Fernando, Trinidad on Sunday January 30, 2011 Hollis Clifton managed to unravel some of the untold anecdotes of Canada based pannist Carl James aka Charlie. That first edition of “Pan Diaspora” for the New Year occurred inside “Pan in Yuh Puefen” with Steve Sealy.
(r to l)Carl James, DJ Steve Sealy & Hollis Clifton at Wack studio in San Fernando
The versatile Arima born Carlie spent most of his formative years in San Fernando prior to migrating to Canada in 1970. Like so many other migrants he saw his hopes of becoming a member of “Local 46 Welder and Pipe Fitters” in Canada dashed in his quest for survival. The multi talented Captain cum Musical Director of Toronto Metrotones Steel Orchestra wasted no time in succumbing to his first love, music, away from the Prairies Provinces. In the formative years of the band it performed under the sobriquet of Guinness Cavaliers. Over the years the bands tuners included and the late Errol Moore, Ed Peters, Tommy Crichlow and Gerard Clarke, to date Metrotones have made two videos with Comedians Oliver Samuels of Jamaica together with Marvin “Trini” Ishmael.
When asked by Clifton how he got involved with Metrotones, a pensive Carlie retorted ... “it must have been share coincidence” that Groovers International, of which he was singer/keyboardist/arranger happen to be practicing next to Metrotones had one day requested his services in arranging a tune when they got stuck ... the rest is history.
Groovers International, a brass band, consisted of about ten players, mostly Trinis and included the likes of Leo John, Leader and Musical Director, Mikey Hyndman, David John, Dodd Shepherd, Dick Lochan (singer) with Carlie as one of the keyboardists.
Over the years Carlie takes time off from pan to play quatro with Los Parangderos in Toronto for which he has written two parang ditties ...soon to be released.
In the early pan days in Canada, Carlie recounted when finding a rehearsal venue for Metrotones proved difficult so he had to forged ties with an Elementary school in Toronto ensuring that he taught pan to students in exchange for accommodation for the band.
Since 1977 the ace pannist has been like the “Snow Bird” heading down south when the goings (temperature) gets tough ... returning to Trinidad at winter to play catch-up ... playing firstly with Olympians Steelband then with Chocolate City where he arranged “Taxi Talk”. Later on he did Baron’s “Soca Man” for WACK Radio’s Old Time Calypso Competition.
James revealed to Clifton that he must have inherited his musical veins from his father Vincent Hernandez who was a pannist and pan tuner who had the distinction of playing for the first National Steel Orchestra under the late George Goddard. Carlie in turn, passed on the pan vibes to his daughters Natasha and Carla who were players with Metrotones.
Carl James at Pan Elders Pan Theatre, San Fernando where he spends most of his time during carnival time 2011
Carlie acknowledged that his first encounter with the pan was with grapefruit tins which he tuned for himself. Laughing all over his face in satire Carlie reminisced to the unusual way in which he acquired his first ping pong ... as a naughty boy in his youthful days he was fooling around in the pan yard of Sea Bees when he somehow got into the way of the band’s captain, Steve Lalsingh (dec) who was really struggling to tune a pan. In truth and in fact Steve had just damaged the pan, in error, and in frustration took the pan and pelt it at Carlie. The impish young man saw this as an opportunity to own his first instrument... the rest is history.
Later he was to be introduced to Melody Makers by Reynold Joseph (dec.) in 1959 where he remained until 1965. He nonetheless, admitted that it was at Melody Makers where he encountered the likes of Radcliff Baker who greatly inspired him into arranging music... “nuff respect”. Thereafter he became a member of the Guinness Cavaliers until 1970 when he migrated to Canada. With Cavaliers he got the opportunity to travel to such places as Surinam, Grenada and Venezuela. His greatest moments with Cavaliers, however, were winning panorama in 1965 and 1967 with a close second in 1966 and 1969.
Pan Diaspora could be heard on the last Sunday of each month on Wack Radio 90.1 FM
Hollis J. Clifton
Pan Diaspora Visionary
