SHANICE HERCULES
“It was either pan or nothing.”
These are the words of A Bukka Rennie, writer, historian, and activist, as he reflects on his lifelong fascination with pan music, a fascination that led him to pen an ambitious book about the history of the instrument intertwined with the journey of one of Trinidad and Tobago’s most acclaimed steelbands – Trinidad All Stars Steel Orchestra (TASSO).
Mettle and Metal: The Birth of Steel Pan Music and the History of Trinidad All Stars Steel Orchestra, is Rennie’s latest book, adding to his collection of works: Remembering and Understanding CLR James and History of the Working Class in the 20th Century (1919-1956): The Trinidad and Tobago Experience. It was published in 2023 by Austin Macauley Publishers and will be formally launched May 21 in a ceremony at the All Stars panyard.
Rennie says the book was a passion project that was over two decades in the making for his beloved band, which he’s played with for years.
“I wanted to write the book. I felt that urge to say something about (All Stars). Because you’re in the band and you’re seeing certain things and you’re hearing all these old men talking about their experience and I thought it would’ve been interesting.”
Rennie said several things happened to him when he was younger that led him to being involved with pan music. When his family moved from San Juan to St Augustine, they lived obliquely opposite Cinco's panyard. There he developed an interest in the sounds of pan music at the age of ten. He recalls trying to go to the panyard with his brothers.
[caption id="attachment_1084695" align="alignnone" width="896"] Cover of Mettle and Metal written by author, Bukka Rennie. - Faith Ayoung[/caption]
“My father chased me out of that panyard and threatened me not to ever be caught in the panyard.”
His father bought a piano to steer his musical taste in another, more acceptable direction, he says.
“But me and Winston decided we wanted to have nothing to do with the piano – it was either pan or nothing.”
When his family moved from St Augustine to Mt Hope, he was introduced to a group of young men from All Stars. Rennie said it was “destiny” that he ended up being a part of All Stars, one of the revellers who would make costumes and join the band on the road for Carnival.
He gives credit to Noel “Cin Cin” Lorde, who was regarded as "president" of a group of boys from Jackson Place, East Dry River, who ended up becoming some of the top men in All Stars, such as Hamilton "Web" Alexander and Red Stevens (Errol Reds Collins). Rennie soon became involved with the Mt Hope Boys, who would design their own costumes and join the band on the road.
“So when I go to Mt Hope now, I am meeting a whole group of guys from Nelson Street, from Duncan Street, from Gonzales, and they are all All Stars people...The next thing I know, we are bringing a section in All Stars band on Carnival Day.”
From then, Rennie says he has played faithfully with the band, playing mas every year. “There’s no way I could sit down hom
