Brian started to play the steelpan instrument at age thirteen with the band Starlift. He resided then at Hunter Street, Woodbrook - the home of another pan stalwart, Ray Holman.
The band Starlift was virtually next door to 'Bean's’ home; so ...he spent most of [his] time with the pans, becoming quite familiar with the double-second.
For a while, there was a small conflict between sport and the love of steelband; basketball and football being the sports involved.
He returned to the Starlift stage side in the early 1970's and toured Canada and New York with the band.
In New York, together with several other players, he formed a band called Moods. In this band, he was associated with Beverly Griffith and Len 'Boogsie' Sharpe. {['Bean'] ...is a very versatile player of all pans.}
Shortly after, 'Bean' returned home and became leader of Phase II Pan Groove between the years 1984 and 1986.
In 1987 he started to arrange for T&TEC Power Stars and Scrunters Pan Groove. He also did some work with the Mucurapo Senior Comprehensive which had made it to the finals of the Schools Music Festival in 1989.
{Brian describes pan as spiritual because of the feeling it inspires. He claims pan is his church. He has the distinction of playing on Broadway in Rum an' Coca-Cola by West Indian playwright Mustaph Mohammed.}
© 1997 Gideon Maxime: Pg 196; PAN THROUGH THE YEARS (1952 - 1996)
© 1995 Dr Felix Blake: Pg 231; THE TRINIDAD & TOBAGO STEEL PAN: History and Evolution
[Blake: Presented without permission; permission being sought.]
