HELOISE STEEL
Outstanding female Pan Player

Heloise Steel was one of the few female pan players of the South who captivated those who saw her play. Heloise attended the San Fernando Girls E.C. School in Les Efforts West, in her primary school days. She had no formal music training and played music by ear.

Heloise’s entrance into the steelband world started in 1963 when a youth group was founded by her mother; who had the playing of steelband as one of its activities.

One of the members of the group lived near Sundowners and he was able to get Steve Regis’ brother, who was the arranger [for] the band [at that time], to come and assist [in persuading the members to accept a woman player]. The panyard was adjoining where she lived and she learnt [to play there]. Raphael Pasey was the Captain. The band was formed on March 30th 1963.

The band took part in a competition at Skinner Park, [in] the South Independence Steelband competition, and won. The members of the band were all teenagers, and this served as an incentive [for many] young people. The band later joined the National Association of Trinidad and Tobago Steelbands (NATTS).

Heloise Steel was the first female to be registered with NATTS, [for] which the late George Goddard was President.

[With] Dave Achoy [as] the arranger; in 1964 [Sundowners] was the first band which was sponsored by Texaco.

Heloise was a stage-side member [through] 1964-1972/73. She considered the highlight of her career to be the receipt of a special award [presented to her] by Dr "Doc" Eric Williams in 1966.

Heloise Steel remembers the early days of her pan playing, when she played with; Stanley Cummings (Calypsonian Squibby) who was the Vice Captain of West Stars; Patrick Watson, now Dr. Patrick Watson of University of the West Indies; and Junior Regrello, whom she taught to play pan; and her trip to Grenada as part of the work, which [was for] Expo 1967.

© 1997 Gideon Maxime: Pg 220; PAN THROUGH THE YEARS (1952 - 1996)

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© 1997: tobagojo@gmail.com - 19971209 - 1m20071228 - 2m20140615
Historic Update: 04 December 1999; Last Update: 19 July 2014 03:30:00 TT
Processed by: Jeremy G de Barry