Pan researcher, writer and former director of the Carnival Institute of Trinidad and Tobago Dr Kim Johnson describes Tony “Muffman” Williams as the most important panman in history.

Why? Because of his work as a captain, tuner and arranger, Johnson said.

Williams died on December 21 at 90 at the St James Medical Complex. He had been hospitalised with covid19 since December 7.

To Johnson and many others, Williams was the father of the modern steel orchestra.

Johnson explained that Williams covered the three spheres of being a panman.

He led what many consider the greatest steelband ever, North Stars, as it won the first two Panoramas and set the template for “all subsequent arrangement of Panorama tunes,” Johnson said.

Not only was the band successful, but it was also socially progressive, he added.

“It was run like a co-operative. Even the people who pushed pans, everybody had a stake in the band, and if the band made money everybody got a share, depending on what they did and how much they did. It was very much a socialistic approach to the organisation of the steelband.”

Williams also sought to have his band members learn music and music theory, Johnson said.

“The band tried to educate everyone in every way possible.”

Williams is best known as a tuner for having invented the tenor pan using fourths and fifths which is the standard tenor pan around the world today.

“He was also the person who introduced oil drums to the background pans, the bass and cello.”

Johnson said until then, the background pans were biscuit drums which were smaller and lighter so they could be carried.

He added because of Williams, the Trinidad All-Steel Percussion Orchestra (TASPO) of 1951 was really the first modern steelband because all his instruments were made of oildrums.

He introduced wheels to the road band.

“Because he had oil drums, you began to get proper notes, the bass playing proper bass lines, and you began to get multiple drums.”

Williams was the person who introduced multiple drums with one pan having several drums.

“Now we have a 12-bass with 12 drums, but it is one pan.”

“In a sense, he was the father of the modern steel orchestra.”

Johnson said the Ivory and Steel concert played with TT-born pianist Winifred Atwell is still considered one of the greatest pan records ever.

In all of those fields, Williams was the leader and that is why Johnson referred to him as the greatest panman. Williams’ passing is the passing of the foundational generation of pan.

“If I had to name three men who made the pan – the three most important – I would put him at the pinnacle. And the other two would be Ellie Mannette and Neville Jules. Now all three have passed.”

Pan Trinbago described Anthony “Tony” Williams’ life as “one of the finest examples of the creative genius” of Trinidadian people. Its vice president Keith Simpson said Williams’ contribution to pan was “invaluable.”

His history began in Nepal Street, St James, where he was born on June 24, 1931, Simpson said. He attended Mucurapo Bo