An Eulogy for Lennox 'Sam' Fortune
RIP 26th November 2015
by tobagojo - 20151207 
 
 
 

Pan Player, Tutor, Arranger, Composer, Driller, Pan Maker.

THE GENERAL SAM:

Widely know in the South as a pan maker/tuner, pan teacher, driller and arranger; ex Captain of Hatters; 'Sam' a diabetic, was recognised for his insistence to carry on regardless.

Often seen hobbling about with his walking-stick 'Sam' persisted.

Despite predictions by his doctors that he would never walk again, following a misguided 'playful' accident in mid 1971, when he was dropped oh his head and nearly broke his neck.

After half a year on his back in hospital, 'Sam' decided that he had had enough of 'that', and intended to get out of 'there', and move on; which he did after another 2 months, though with limited mobility of his legs for the rest  of his life.

A recent accident in early 2015, had 'Sam' bedridden again, much to his annoyance, when he fell and broke his hip.

Fortune showed good signs of recovery, gaining mobility with a wheel-chair.

All was going well until a surprising debilitating relapse set-in over late October.

Principal founder San City Steel Symphony (and earlier of Lee Chong Pan Glow Steel Orchestra), past Captain Hatters Steel Orchestra; Lennox 'Sam' Fortune passed away after a brave-faced but fading 3 week struggle, with complications, at the San Fernando Teaching Hospital, overnight Thursday, 26th November 2015.

'Sam' Fortune leaves three step children; Alana, Ja Ja, Jessie; and a son Joshua.

THE EARLY SAM:

Lennox Fortune, affectionately known as 'Sam', was the fourth born child of Authur and Agatha Fortune. He was born on 20th August 1951 in Princes Town and grew up with three brothers and three sisters. He went to school at the Hindustan Primary Baptist School.

Sam spent his late teens living along the Pointe-a-Pierre Road, closer into San Fernando than Vistabella; but finally settled for most of his life at Forest Avenue, Cocoyea; after which he moved to Mon Repose where he spent about the last 3 years of his life.

Sam's career as a pan player began when he played tenor with Hatters in 1969. According to Sam ”They were on Keith Street and then they went to Broadway.“ He would later play in a band called West Stars.

In 1971 Sam became both the Vice Captain and assistant arranger for Hatters.  

In the same year, 'Sam' began his sojourn with the San Fernando Borough Council as an occasional labourer, after which he became a Watchman for them at Skinner Park in 1974, till his retirement in 2013.

'Sam' worked an ad hoc apprenticeship in pan making under Bertrand Kelman between 1971 and 1973; a skill he would continue to pursue throughout his active career with the steelbands. During this period 'Sam' could often be found 'ponging pan', round the back of San Fernando hill, near the Marryat-Naparima Resevoir. 'Sam' admits that he was not that successful then; however, as of 1972 he said, ”It wasn't good, but I make meh first pan then.“

 It would not be until late 1979, when Hatters called upon Sam to make pans again; and as 'Sam' explained ”Hatters didn't have suitable pans and they could not afford to buy any... so besides arranging, I was making pans too.“ 'Sam's' arranging story with Hatters will be visited again later.

In 1973 'Sam' became Vice Captain of Hatters, with that arranger Steve Achiber taking over the Captaincy of the band. He was instrumental in organising the restart and regrouping of Hatters at Broadway (Independence Ave), San Fernando; retaining post as Vice Captain of Hatters 'Sam' would remain Vice Captain of Hatters until 1976; the Year after Maritime Life Hatters famously gained the Panorama victory for the South lands in 1975, Playing Achiber's arrangement of Kitcheners Spree Simon.

 In this period, 'Sam' accompanied Hatters on it's two prize winning foreign tours to the USA, the bands first serious exertions out of Trinidad. On the first tour, in 1974, the band travelled to the Aquatennial Festival in Minneapolis, Minnesota, U.S.A.; it was part of the 2nd prize for the Panorama of that year. The second was in 1975 to the Dallas State Fair in Texas, U.S.A.; it was a prize given for Hatters winning the Panorama of that year. An anecdotal feature of these tours; Hatters is reputed to have been the first touring steelband to return home with all it's compliment of players in tact; as other steelbands were reputed to have had many players lost to hopeful migration away from home.

 'Sam' would make one further foreign tour with a steelband, acquiring a taste for the bourbon Jack Daniels and for strong Canadian beer along the way. With the Trinidad Trovatos Steelband; as pan tuner, arranger; and player of various pan instruments, 'Sam' embarked on a 4 month tour, his last but fondly remembered outside Trinidad, to Newfoundland, Canada.

 Music

Turning now to 'Sam's' musical side, he recalled that he started to arrange tunes for Hatters Stage Side around 1971. His first exploit into the Panorama arena was in 1980, after the Hatters Achaiba era, when Achaiba went off to establish South Stars in 1978. 'Sam' co-arranged Panorama 1980 with the now famous Ken 'Professor' Philmore who incidentally, acquired the name 'Pro' from Hatters members because of the large spectacles he would wear while proficiently playing his tenor pan in the front line.

 'Sam' would then take Hatters to 3 more Panorama's, arranging and drilling the band for; 1981 Heroes of Our Culture, the year in which he had again become Captain; 1982 (?) and 1983 50 Years of Steel, the year after which he left the band.

 It was after this time that 'Sam' would continue honing his pan making skills and go off to found some other steelbands in San Fernando.

SAM THE STEELBAND FOUNDER

Pan Glow

 In late 1984, the ships broker Lee Chong wanted to start a steelband for the 1985 carnival season. Lee Chong, with no previous 'pan' experience, was having trouble getting players to start his planned band. So he began by asking around his San Fernando colleagues if they could help find a suitably able and experienced cohort. The name 'Sam' Fortune kept turning up. Soon after, on a road close to his house, he met 'Sam' with the greeting ”I glad I see you“, explaining his problems. 'Sam' asked if he had any transport ”He tell me yah. I said, well, tomorrow evening pick me up at 4:00pm. He said alright…“

The next day, with Lee Chong driving a small bus about San Fernando, 'Sam' directing; stopping at various houses 'Sam' would bawl out the window ”get dress… I comin back in de next ten minutes“, and they would move on to the next place. After a good few stops down the roads, a quizzical Lee Chong.said ”Sam, why you not telling people wha tiz you want?“ A grinning 'Sam' replied ”See dem people, dem is personal me friends and colleagues of mine. Wherever I eat, they eat; wherever I drink, dem drink. Dey see me, dey know 'is pan.“ So, with a bus full of players on their way to a place in Golconda, Lee Chong Pan Glow was borne.

 'Sam' would tune pans and became the carnival 'Road' arranger for Pan Glow for 1985; after which he left the band to do his own thing.

 
Small Bands & Teaching

After carnival 1985 'Sam' formed a quartet Sam & Friends. The group performed for parties, public houses and corporate functions. The band would last for just over a year. 'Sam' would, after his other main project, catch the urge to do the same again; and became co-founded, tuner, arranger, manager of Jewel of the Nineties, a 7 member ensemble, operating in the local area in 1990.

In 1986 'Sam' started the Southern Pan Academy (SPA) at 53 Forest Avenue, Cocoyea, where pan technique tuition was taught. This continued until the formation of San City Symphony Steel Orchestra in 1988; after which time the same function was conducted in the panyard of San City.

 
San City

In1988 'Sam' was invited, on behalf of the San Fernando Borough Council, by Kenrick Khan the PRO of the San Fernando City Corporation, to establish and musically arranger for a steelband that would play in celebration for the elevation of San Fernando from a Borough, on its inauguration day as a City. The players were initially to be drawn from the City Corporation workers. On instruction from Mr Khan, and with the assistance of Anthony De Caires, a City Corporation worker, pans were borrowed from the steelband Motown, and using their panyard, a small 12 member steelband was established.

”They wanted to show off the kind of talent that San Fernando had“ 'Sam' later explained ”Really, the objective was for workers to come together, be tighter.“

”They told me I didn't have to worry about the quality of players. De Caires would made sure they had pans and players. I had to recruit some players. There were a few crack shots in the band. But there was also the reverse… some of the players would take about 10 days to learn one phrase. Well, the De Caires who coulda played a little, used' to bust style. Joseph Lett was the first captain of the band.“

”They carried me down to Motown's panyard where I put down 4 to 5 songs.“

The San Fernando City Corporation Steelband, with 'Sam' on double seconds, performed at the grounds of the Public Service Association (PSA) on Paradise Pasture for the first San Fernando City Day, 18th November 1988. A Baron song Melosian Rhapsody went down well, and after it all, the band got a standing ovation, a $100 contribution from the City councillor Marlene Ambrose, who then passed it on the the City Clerk, Immali Itimo for safe keeping.

The success of the project, in the eyes of the City Corporation, allowed them to commit some space at the Corporation's 'Borough Yard', Carib Street, for an ongoing steelband. A change in emphasis for players and with the name of the band, found ”the De Caires children and my good friend Kelvin St Claire and his children“ as the core members of the band ”a real family band“ 'Sam' would summarise. That was the birth of the San City Steel Symphony Orchestra that we know today. 'Sam' would make many pans for San City, and became for a time, its principal stage-side arranger. 'Sam' also composed tunes for the band, Ola Ola, Kay and Moods in Time were some of his memorable pieces.

'Sam's' pan technique tuition courses were continued at San City, to encourage the induction of new members to the band, inspiring a whole new generation of youth, and he would be driller for the band when it later matured to join the Panorama arena. 'Sam' would stay with San City until the time of rejoining Hatters in 2005.

San City Panyard - 28th Nov 2015 - tobagojo

THE CARRY ON SAM:

Between 2005 and 2009 'Sam' rejoined Hatters as Captain. He discovered The Gabrielites Steelband, comprising at the time under-14 students principally from St Gabriels Girls School, in temporary residence at the panyard, while their school was working to accommodate a steelband. 'Sam' arranged their 'Blue' Festival piece for Point Fortin Borough Day 2005, which was won by the steelband. In mid 2006 'Sam' initiated the Hatters first Steelpan & Music Literacy Workshop (SMLW) that graduated some 30 youth, with pan technique and some music literacy, following a 5 week programme. Hatters would continue the tradition completing its 6th SMLW in 2014. 'Sam' composed and arranged Pan Romance for Hatters Panorama 2009.

'Sam' Fortune at Hatters SMLW 2009 - 20090730 - tobagojo

Continuing in the pan making arena; 'Sam' Fortune acted as principal tutor for Pan Trinbago's Pan Making & Pan Tuning course held at the Pan Theatres of Hatters in 2005, and at Kalamo Kings in 2007. He would act as the Internal Verifier for Pan Making techniques on a Youth Training and Employment Partnership Programme (YTEPP) held at the Pan Theatres of Pan Elders in San Fernando in 2011 and at Arima Angel Harps, Arima in 2012.

'Sam' Fortune & student panmaker at Pan Elders Pan Theatre, Carib Steert, San Fernando, Trinidad, TT - 20110627 - tobagojo

During all this time, 'Sam' would continually return to San City SS to assist with their summer Pan Camps and to drill their band for Panorama, up to the time of his accidental fall in early 2015.

Lennox 'Sam' Fortune sits next to San City Steel Symphony at the benifit concert 25th September 2015, Skiffle PanTheatre, Coffee Street, San Fernando.
tobagojo

CONTRIBUTION TO SOUTHERN PAN:

'Sam' Fortune's most significant contribution to the steelbands in San Fernando with which he worked, was his insistence that the 'Pan' and 'The Panyard' are a unique cultural gift to TT and an excellent platform from which to start 'Youth Education and Development'.

'Sam' listens to the children play - 20130807 - by Tasha

He exemplified this principle, in his middle period, with his tutorial 'Pan' courses and particularly with the 'Teaching' sessions of his Southern Pan Academy in Cocoyea, and conducted with the youthful San City Steel Symphony. He was strongly influential with the musical development of San City's current arrangers, Aquil Arrendell and Damion St Clare; he tutored them from childhood. He went on to found Hatters first Steelpan & Music Literacy Workshop in 2006; which continues today under the stewardship of Kevin McLeod.

Many of 'Uncle Sam's' students from 'Pan' went on to further their general education, with some aspiring to tertiary degrees; propelled by 'Sam's' encouragement.

Lennox 'Sam' Fortune committed his life to 'Pan'. He was the quintessential whole-steelband panjumbie. He was kind, generous and fair with all his dealings with pan. His joy was teaching pan, he was stern and his words were phrased for a high moral commitment by all who listened. His legacy will however be his belief in 'Pan for Education', a foundation he set with San City and Hatters; a commitment it is hoped, that will be fondly cherished and nurtured by these bands in his memory.

From under the teaching tent across the yard, 'Sam' looks to the progress on Stage during a Hatters Pan Theatre SMLW - tobagojo (left) & Tasha (right)

'Sam's' tricks as a driller will fondly be remembered. ”Ah go kiss You!“ He would loudly admonish, for all to hear, to any player, woman or man, who did not get a phrase right, ”You want me to do dat?“. Few failed, but a few did get a kiss.

Double Tenor in the middle & rhythm
tobagojo

  tobagojo - 20151208 - PRO Hatters Steel Orchestra