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Trinidad in the 1960s;
Transformation to the Big Band
Profile of Lennox ‘Bobby’ Mohammed’s Guinness Cavaliers
Steel Orchestra
Presented by Haroun N. Shah,
Nostalgia Steelband, London
In stark contrast to the 1950’s, in which
Steelbands struggled to gain acceptance and social status, many
writers refer to the 1960’s as the “Golden Era of Steelband”. Huge
cultural changes were taking place and this was matched by the new
sound of the steelbands as they challenged the boundaries of this
incredible instrument. Experimental diversification of the basic
format such as Anthony Williams’s (Pan Am North Stars) ‘spider web
pan’, new tonal qualities (e.g. Alan Gervais steelpans) and the
arrival of steelband sponsorship were major driving forces. Nearly
all these activities were taking place in Port of Spain and in the
north of Trinidad; conversely little attention was paid to
developments in San Fernando and the south. However, this was all
about to change with the arrival of ‘The Cavaliers’, which unlike
any other band, had to earn its sponsorship in open competition in
Port of Spain’s Woodford Square in 1961 and then became known as
‘Guinness Cavaliers’.
This new band led by the young Lennox ‘Bobby’
Mohammed, then aged only 18 years and still a student of
‘Presentation College’, made quantum leaps in the world of steelband
in a remarkably short period and soon became a tour de force
for the next two decades. Guinness Cavaliers transformed the
steelband from a modest force into what soon became known as the
‘Big Band’ and Bobby’s extraordinary talent began its musical
cornucopia. By 1962/3 they were on the move and by 1964, Guinness
Cavaliers took first place in the Southern Steelband competition and
reached the All Trinidad Finals for the first time. A year on, they
brushed aside the reigning champions of the two previous years, the
inimitable Pan Am North Stars, taking the country by storm to win
the National Panorama with a scintillation interpretation of Lord
Melody’s “Mass”. Bobby’s arrangement of this piece shocked even
the composer while San Fernando welcomed them back with the greatest
accolade ever given to a steelband; onlookers climbing to every
vantage point to applaud and cheer on their heroes on J’ouvert
morning 1965. The following year Guinness Cavaliers placed second in
the National Panorama but rose to take the top prize again in 1967.
The band then started looking for more challenging
projects and entered the Music Festival of 1966, playing Acts I and
IV of the opera Carmen for which they were awarded the prize for
best arrangement and an overall place of third. Guinness Cavaliers
entered the 1967 music festival with a classical composition written
by Bobby called “Revelation from Beyond”; lifting the standards of
steelband again to new heights. Crucially, began taking steelband
music out of Trinidad, first to its neighbour Venezuela in 1968,
followed by several tours abroad to North America and Europe;
helping to establish its presence at an international level. Bobby
terminated his activities with Guinness Cavaliers in 1972, but went
on to arrange for ‘The National Steelband of Trinidad and Tobago’
and several other steelbands up until 1993. His contribution was
immeasurable and he was inducted into the Hall of Fame in New York
for ‘The Sunshine Awards’ and received the ‘Humming Bird Gold Medal’
in 1992 for his immense contribution to the ‘development and shaping
of the destiny of this instrument of the 21st century’.
The lessons and achievements of this great band and
leader will be traced in this presentation as a paradigm for
aspiring bands. Today the music of Guinness Cavaliers resonates in
steelband repertoires throughout Trinidad and around the globe.
David Rudder in his calypso ‘Engine Room’ poignantly pays tribute to
him as “Bobby Mohammed with the Bell”; the percussion piece used to
inspire the leadership qualities of this musical genius. Bobby
Mohammed and the vibrant Guinness Cavaliers live on in the hearts
and souls of steelband musicians everywhere and it is fitting that
the opening presentation of this, the first academic conference on
Steelband, should be dedicated to them.
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Programme