Pan Genealogy Foundation

MEADOW WILLIAMS – THE EVOLUTION OF PAN (Down South)

Hollis J. Clifton, Pan Diaspora Visionary, chats with 86 year old Pan Pioneer, Meadow at his home on St. Joseph Street, San Fernando, on his involvement with the national instrument of his native Trinidad & Tobago.

THE BAMBOO TAMBOO ERA - 1935

Meadow recalled growing up with his grandmother, Albertha Watson on Drayton Street, in Trinidad & Tobago’s Industrial Capital, San Fernando in the 1930s. In 1935 Meadow was 8 years old. He recalled that apart from the Coffee Bamboo Band there were two (2) other such bands in Sando … the Toll Gate Band, on Cipero Street and the Wharf Band. They functioned primarily at carnival time. His grandmother and great uncle were both members of the Coffee Street band which was then situated at the corner of Drayton and Coffee Streets. The women would dress like the Martiniquais with the stick fighters in front wearing black trousers, yellow satin puff sleeve shirts, broad contrasting sash around the waist and head ties. Whenever the two bands met it was ‘open war’ (with stick fighting).

Like most other children in those days Meadow pitched marbles – single or three holes and button win; he also indulged in three line (spin top). During the carnival season the yard would normally be a beehive of activity attracting lots of his cohorts who will be doing their own thing including beating discarded bamboo and some would even play stick. Meadow was no exception and was having a go much to the displeasure of his uncle who promptly chased him home. The timely intervention of the band’s captain saved the day having recognized the talent displayed by Meadow, a self taught percussionist. His grandmother was informed of the episode. At night Meadow with his friends would gather discarded bamboo and imitate the band. The uncle again chased him home but again the captain intervened this time he took him into the bowels of the band and had him play. His uncle again reported what had played out to the grandmother who eventually had a talk with Tarzan, the then captain.  She eventually gave in acknowledging that he was in good hands. There after he became a full fledge member of the Coffee Bamboo Band. At eight (8) years of age he got to wear long pants for the first time - in the bands costume in which he played mas (masquerade) for the first time. A couple of years later the family moved down to Johnstone Street.  He may have been around 10 years or so by then.

                                    MEADOW’S FIRST ENCOUNTER WITH PAN

Pan is said to “appeal to the heard instincts of man” Meadow was not singular in that respect as he found himself wandering into the nearby “German Camp Yard” to ‘take in’ some pan. Eventually Julian “Tall Boy” Benjamin asked him his name and address and of his interest in the steelpan. An elated Meadow answered in the affirmative which resulted in his being “given a beat.” (allowed to play the pan)

That first encounter went down well as it resulted in “Tall Boy” telling Meadow feel free to come to the yard … “that pan is yours”. That gesture saw the youngster clandestinely frequenting the pan yard until his grandmother got wind of it… surely, he was grounded since in those days Mucurapo Street had a reputation of which no well meaning guardian/parent/care giver would be proud of. 

While panmen worked tirelessly at developing the only melodic, steel percussion instrument invented in the 20^th century, the steelband was not openly embraced by the citizenry. Panmen generally came from the poorer, lesser-educated, Black segments of the population and their music became synonymous with their plight; steelband music was the poor Black man's music. In reality, steelbands attracted many lawbreakers and associating with a band was not considered socially acceptable. Many panmen belonged to gangs and, as a result, steelbands were perceived by most people as extensions of these gangs. There were numerous fights among steelbands that, in many instances, led to bloodshed with the use of weapons (such as knives, razors, and cutlasses) and missiles (such as bottles and stones). These violent clashes were reflected in the calypsos of the time

The prohibition failed to stop the pan aspirant and so he duped granny making her feel he was going to the cinema. (or so he thought to himself) The “Coffee Boy” was also a Trainee Blacksmith. One day a neighbor visited his grand mom who boasted of the boy’s talent, in agreeing the neighbor quickly interjected … “he’s the best pan beater in the yard too”. On hearing that granny just smiled. Meadow felt a sense of comfort … oblivious to what she had in store.

Later that evening after work Meadow told his grandma he was going to martinee, (cinema) as was the norm. He was surprised, however, when she said she wanted to talk to him and pulled him inside. The fourteen (14) year old was the recipient of a ‘sweet cut tail’ {blows} from granny … with the accompanying words “I’ll show you how to beat pan.” On hindsight he refers to it as the last licking he received as it had him musing at something she said which turned out to be a big joke afterwards.

MEADOW VISITS PORT OF SPAIN

The event failed to encumber Meadow from going into the pan yard. “Tallboy” ( who was originally from Port of Spain) eventually asked him to accompany him to Town (Port of Spain) as he was going to visit family in Belmont… an enthusiastic Meadow obliged. Meadow was fascinated by the Trolley Buses and the Tram Cars on rail in Town. After visiting his family Tallboy took him into a yard next to the Salvation Army Church called “Hell Yard” where they met Fish Eye and his family. From the time the gate opened “I was hearing pan knocking and when I went towards the river I saw the fellas beating. I saw Neville Jules tuning a pan …I didn’t know who he was then but, it was like magic… well! Don’t talk about the gambling. I watched and listened; they had some Trinidad Government Railway pans, grease pans with four (4) notes which were the ping pongs and four (4) notes kittles pans and a larger one. To me it looked like it was not tuned but it was a kittle. Well, we stayed for three (3) days in Town during which I was learning to play the ping pong and a bit of tuning … all by watching. We went in “Bar 20” yard. On our way we met Dudley Smith, Oscar Pyle and later on I met Mc Kingsale and others I can’t remember.”

                                                        Pearl Harbour with Meadow stooping at right

THE BIRTH OF PEARL HARBOUR – Trials and Tribulations (1940 – 1947)

When we were leaving Town Fish Eye gave me a four (4) note ping pong … so that was the only tuned pan in San Fernando in the year 1940; but                                                       shortly after “Tallboy” and myself would go on a Pan Search until we got the amount of pans we needed to start with and by the end of the year we had formed the band “Pearl Harbor” and for the Christmas from the yard we went by Miss Tackoo’s Restaurant to perform. That was the only time we hit the road during the war and it was a short distance on the same road with two (2) names, Mucurapo Street and Prince Alfred Street. We started to practice regular on evenings until we got it clean.

 During the war pan was not allowed to play as it was considered an unholy din. Mind you other musical genres did not endure such prohibitions, these included bottle & spoon, violins, chac chac, maracas, cuatros.  

All that time we were practicing without a “boom” i.e. until Big David walk into the yard beating one a day while practicing. Now we wanted a bugle … but we had the most important instrument – the pans.

 Meadow displays the bugle which was part and parcel of the rhythm section in the formative years of pan

People would come in to see and hear because it’s something strange so one evening it had a crowd so Tallboy pass a hat and collected some money; then the next day he built a tent and charge six (6) cents to enter with children one penny (2 cents). That was in the year 1940. Later on, Tallboy called a meeting to give the band a name and a captain. The name of the yard was German Camp i.e. before World War II – reminiscent of the effect of Germany on that travesty. A name review was on the horizon. The band was formed in 1941.

As time passed one day while practicing police made a raid … some of the men run but who stayed they took our names and summon us to go to court but, no one went to court. On that day of the case deceased Magistrate Cazabon tried the case exparty and charged the players ninety six dollars ($96.00-) or six (6) months in jail. Some men gave bogus names, so warrants were out for them. They picked up with one man, Kelvin Williams, and he had to do his time.(in the penitentiary)

The pint size pannist reminisce that all that time his grandmother did not know what was going on until the warrant officer approached her one day with the news. She paid the fine of $96.00 which in those days was a whole lot of money.

Following that episode everything went dormant until the end of the war in 1945. Then the guys had to start all over once more. They had the ping pong … the one Meadow always kept at home and the other one in George Presell’s shoemaker shop.          

A bemused Meadow iterated to Clifton the 9:00 AM to 12 midnight Celebration they had which saw Tallboy and himself embark on a “pan search”. It took them all night … they had to cut and burn before tuning. They expended a whole lot till about 6 o’clock in the morning, then as Meadow was about to take a nap a cab owner solicited his services to repair a busted wheel band. Even though the artisan pleaded he was inexperienced on such a job the cab driver insisted in engaging his services.

For a while Meadow pondered … the $96.00 his grandma had paid wavered in his mind ‘… nothing ventured, nothing gained’. He suddenly had the motivation… Hell yes! He confidently gave it a shot. Tallboy passed to see how he was going so:-

            I told him to go ahead and I will meet the band

            In response Tall boy retorted: “without the ping pong?”

“I told him I will meet them by the Library so when I was finished and went for my pan it was not there.”    

“My grandmother informed me that `Veda gone with it’ so I thought she had carried it for me but when I got to the Promenade I was hearing the sound of a ping pong so I thought it was Billy but I was also hearing the bugle and Billy was the Bugler but when I reached in the band I saw it was Veda … I felt good so I let her carry on. She learnt on her own when I was not at home.

I took a few men with me to the Police Station for the pans that were confiscated … they had to be tuned over.”

That in a nutshell was the birth of the steelband or pan in San Fernando, Trinidad

“Julian `Tallboy’ Benjamin was the man behind it all. I would have liked him to be around today.” Bless his soul - He was employed with S.M. Jaleel Sweet drink Factory as a salesman in the Fyzabad and Siparia area.”

Another member was Aubrey “Dollar” Jeffers who was employed with ‘Dipraj Samaroo Soft Drink Factory’, as a salesman for Point Fortin and Cedros area.

Pearl Harbour steelband was situated on Mucurapo Street, obliquely opposite Johnstone Street. It lasted up to the year 1948. There after some of the members went over to the Cross of Lorraine Steelband led by Emile “Zola” Williams.

Veda Samuel was the first female to beat a steelpan in San Fernando. She was also the first person to beat a ping pong on the streets of San Fernando. That was in 1945 in the post war period.

Other members of Pearl Harbour included John Patterson, Lincoln Pascal and Kelvin Williams.        

THE BIRTH OF THE CROSS OF LORAINE STEELBAND

Following the demise of Pearl Harbour, Meadow became a member of the Cross of Loraine steelband in 1948 {The Cross of Lorraine was a 1943 Metro-Goldwyn-Mayer war film about French prisoners of war escaping a German prison camp and joining the French}.  It is interesting to note that Pearl Harbor, like most bands of that era, chose names in relation to popular movies or international events of the period. [PS – Casablanca, Tokyo, Red Army, Invaders etc.]

By this time Meadow was building quite a name for himself as a tuner cum arranger. At a fete in Couva he was approached by one Victor from that area who requested his assistance in the formation of a band. He could not resist so that within a few weeks he was on the ball. Because the band was in a back street it was called BACK STREET BOYS. Later they moved on to the main road where Victor resided. They then took on the name EAGLE SQUADRON. The outfit included the Pascal brothers, Ray, Boysie, Moy (a female) among others. That was around 1949-1950.

CROSS OF LORAINE GIVES WAY TO FREE FRENCH

By 1951 the band undertook yet another name change in FREE FRENCH and soon after went on a tour to Martinique and Guadeloupe. On his return Meadow was again approached on the formation of another band in California by Lenny Lamont. He again obliged especially since he had some pals in Central – Carl Shipley, Errol Maynard, Selwyn John, Fabien among others.

Free French, meanwhile, was preparing for the inaugural biannual Steelband Music Festival in 1952. The test piece was “Under Marabella Bridge” plus a tune of choice. The band was led by its founder, Emile “Zola” Williams with Theo Stephens as arranger. {Theo had just returned from the U.K after performing at the Music Festival of Britain in London with TASPO – Trinidad All Percussion Steel Pan Orchestra - from July 06, to December 12, 1951.}

Meadow tuning pans at home – St Joseph Street, San Fernando

An amused Meadow related to Clifton an incident which occurred some sixty (60) years ago, on the day of the Festival ... Meadow was accosted by Theo about an arrangement change in the “tune of choice” … the pans had already gone to the venue … the other players were not cognizant of the change. He was not happy with it as it was merely a few hours before the competition but was assured by the arranger that it would be easy for the players to catch.

Following the performance Meadow thought he had made a mistake with his solo run … but according to Adjudicator Dr Sydney Nortcote the pans were well tuned the error was in the tune of choice; “the composer did the piece for strings and strings only” it took several years to put the piece together and it remained incomplete to date… and we got there and pound it out on oil drums … “what an insult it was!” affirmed the learned Doctor of Music

THE CHIMES OF METRONOMES (1952 - 1956)

By year’s end Theo took over the band from Zola … all the members followed … the new name was now METRONOMES. It was now situated on Rushworth Street where Theo’s family resided. Some of the instruments were had from Zola whereas Meadow got some from the bands he tuned for – Couva, California and Oropouche. Metro was ready for the Queen’s Coronation Celebration.

Come 1953 Metronomes got engagements playing for dances and during the Lenten season they played at the residence of the Montanoes in Vistabella. The following morning, however, the instruments were transported to Cunupia as Theo had unilaterally organized a sale for them. This almost caused a fracas in the camp save for the timely intervention of Meadow who got some of the boys to remove the remaining pans from Free French pan yard to his home on Johnson street where they attempted to reform the band … until low and behold Theo struck for a second time; this time he took pannists with him, including Alan Bishop, Neville Alibocas, H. Boodoo, Kenneth “Heads” Baptiste among others, leaving three (3) of the guys ………….. Webb, Eric Tony & Meadow. This resulted in his formation of All Stars in 1953.

Meadow made a valiant attempt to keep the band going … including asking the neighbor to allow her children to play. This is how the Lackatoo brothers came into the picture… so too did Roy Ackee, Moses, Steve Drayton and others. Webb emerged as the tuner cum captain. Meadow was the arranger. The struggles continued past 1954 when a sailor band was added to the carnival presentation. In 1954 playing in dances with brass bands became part of our feat. All credit to the Lackatoo boys who were taking dance classes at the YWCA on the Promenade. That was for gratis but it appeared to have opened the doors to lucrative gigs and more important … recognition.

Metronome’s carnival presentation for 1955 was entitled “The Bronze Warrior”. It saw the band receiving the two major awards at Skinner Park and at Rushworth Street but it was, indeed, a rainy day. It was a tough time for Meadow as he had precious little help.

The following year, 1956, the band played “Red Nose Sailor”. Even though Meadow portrayed a “Prince’ his thoughts were “outside the box” … the Music Festival.

FESTIVAL TIME AGAIN

On the heels of a successful carnival the members appeared to be getting conceited, as the talk about the town was about “Metro, Metro and Metro”. Meadow was in a quandary in the selection of a tune for the Festival – “Gold & Silver Waltz or Granada Mambo” … but the band members would not attend practice. .. this caused Meadow to throw in the towel.

When Zola got wind of Metronome’s non participation in the Festival he asked for some pans and some of the senior players inclusive of  Webb, Tony and Meadow himself. Following discussion with the other players, who were not selected, it was agreed that the both bands would merge and participate under the banner of FRENCH-METRONOME.

At the first rehearsal Meadow was selected as the arranger; “Indian Love Call” was the tune of choice for Free French and after a tossup “Gold and Silver Waltz” received the nod viz a viz” “Indian Love Call”. Eventually they qualified for the semi-finals together with Southern Symphony which was led by Belgrave Bonaparte. They, however, did not go beyond the semi-finals in Port of Spain in what was considered controversial as the announcer had to run for cover following his pronouncement.

Following the Festival it was agreed to continue performing as an alliance. That too proved futile causing Meadow to walk. (abandon the steelpan movement)

MEADOW’S FINAL CURTAIN IN PAN

Meadow became disillusioned with the pan fraternity from 1956. Then after some sixteen (16) years of watching history created, from the sidelines, he jumped back into the fray in 1972. He was then 42 years young and chose to play the six (6) bass with Sando Organettes where he remained for another seven (7) years.

In 1980 Meadow again switched bands, this time he chose Olympians playing with them for panorama. As if that was not enough the next year he jumped ship and played with Southern All Stars for panorama 1981. He never turned back and delved deeper into a totally different genre - sports -----.                      

In 2000 Meadow was recognized as a Pan Warrior by the Southern Pan Warriors Research Foundation

                            Meadow with other honorees of the Southern Pan Pioneers

at the turn of the turn of the century at Skiffle Bunch Pan Theatre