HIGHLANDERS STEEL ORCHESTRA BUILDING FUND
Donation protected
Conceptual drawing of the proposed Highlanders Steel Orchestra Pan Theatre and Music Institute.
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Highlanders Steel Orchestra is in the process of building a modern Pan Theatre at its Pan Yard location. The Pan Yard is located on the Eastern Main Road at the corner of William Street, Success Village, Laventille. The band secured a ninety nine (99) year lease on the property from the National Petroleum Marketing Company of Trinidad and Tobago (NP), and is getting some assistance from the East Port of Spain Development Company to begin developing the property. We are now seeking to raise funds to complete building the Pan Theatre and Music Institute. We are appealing to friends, family, Highlanders supporters, Laventillians or anyone who would like to assist in making this project a reality. When completed, the band will finally have a permanent home where band members and the community can come to with pride, and visiting members from abroad can congregate, enjoy pan music and socialize year round. Please assist by making a donation at the link above. Your assistance will also aid in the redevelopment of the Success Village, Laventille community.Site of Highlanders Steel Orchestra, Eastern Main Road, corner of William street, Success Village, laventille
The Pan Theatre will consist of a two (2) storey concrete building and a steel pavilion practice area for the steel orchestra. The grounds of the pan yard will be paved, with adequate parking spaces and a bleachers seating area for supporters and visitors.
Completed two (2) storey building currently on site.
The first floor of the building will comprise of three (3) classrooms which are separated by full height accordion bi-fold doors and male and female washrooms. The ground floor of the building will comprise of a storage area for instruments, a cafeteria, an artisan booth, an office, a conference room and male and female washrooms.
This Pan Theatre will provide the Success Village, Laventille community with a modern facility where opportunities for the development of culture and education can be embraced by all.
The band currently shares space with Uni Stars Steel Orchestra at their pan yard located on the Bertie Marshall Boulevard at the corner of Mc Allister Street, Success Village, Laventille. View a sample clip of this year's 2019 Panorama selection:
HIGHLANDERS STEEL ORCHESTRA
BIOGRAPHY – The Highlanders story
The history of Highlanders Steel Orchestra extends back to 1953 when the band was first organized by Kim Loy Wong, and was based at Mango Rose, Port of Spain. in 1958, Kim Loy Wong
Kim Loy Wong
migrated to New York and on a return trip to Trinidad in 1961, while staying at his sister’s home on the Eastern Main Road in Laventille, he had the opportunity to hear Bertie Marshall’s band,
Bertie Marshall
Armed Forces (so named because of their frequent gigs at the Chaguaramas Base) when they practiced at the corner of Old St. Joseph Road and Erica Street, Success Village Laventille. It was at Bertie Marshall’s Armed Forces pan yard that Kim Loy Wong was introduced to instruments tuned by Bertie that, as Wong would say, “were like nothing I had ever heard before.” His fascination with this revolution in sound, to which he was witness, was what got Wong to thinking of the seemingly outlandish idea of extending his stay through Carnival 1962 so as to collaborate with Bertie in bringing a reconstituted Highlanders on the road.
Bertie was agreeable once Wong was committed to providing the resources necessary for getting the band road-ready. Players for the band were drawn from a motley collection of active and former pan sides: Armed Forces, the defunct Highlanders, Leslie “Professor” Slater’s band, William “Bootooman” Philips’ band, Savoys and Laventille’s onetime Kentuckians and Unique bands. The new Highlanders made an immediate impression, with the pronounced jazzy influence in its music and of course the signature Bertie Marshall tone of the instruments.
In a prelude of things to come, the band also made a splash with its bomb tune, which was”Waltz from Faust”. That first year also saw some minor “turf” problems within the band, with some in the Armed Forces clan showing slight resentment against what they considered the interloping Highlanders folk and insisting that their tee shirts be emblazoned with “Armed Forces Highlanders” in preference to “Highlanders”. Thankfully, the power of the music was all it took to eradicate all vestiges of dissatisfaction with the Highlanders name, and it was as Highlanders that the band proceeded to write its name into the annals of steel band lore.
Not surprisingly, the fetching music produced by the band made it attractive to fete promoters. In due course Highlanders would play in all the major fete venues – Port Services, Perseverance, Guardian, Palms Club, etc – invariably featured with one or two of the leading dance bands. It is no exaggeration to say that Highlanders often proved to be the major attraction on the bill. For the Carnival seasons of 1963 and ’64, the band maintained a routine of beginning its preparation for the season in Laventille and moving into Mango Rose as Carnival drew closer.
After Carnival of ’64 Telco recorded the band for its first commercial album. The release of that recording in April of ’64 was a watershed development for the band, as the album was an instant hit, both Radio Trinidad and Radio Guardian selecting material for their play lists almost on a daily basis for months. The upshot of which was the band’s popularity zoomed and with it, increased demand for Highlanders’ services. In 1964, too, Bertie was heavily into his experimentation in amplification to enhance the band’s sound. Bertie first did partial amplification (of the soprano pan, which he played) in fetes and other public appearances. It was all building toward the banner year that 1965 would prove to be.
A strategic decision was made for Carnival 1965 regarding the mas Highlanders would bring. It was felt that given the band’s unprecedented popularity, it should make a change from the type of mas presented from ’62 to ’64 (Indians, Pirates…) and go instead for a mas of high-volume potential, that being a sailor band. The tactic was a winning one, as Highlanders unveiled one of the largest sailor bands ever seen on the streets of the city. There were other elements contributing to the specialness of 1965. For one thing, Bertie was ready to give his amplification experiment its first road test, a new feature that created quite a buzz. But there was also tremendous excitement created by the piece Bertie had insightfully settled on as the bomb tune, Handel’s “Every Valley Shall Be Exalted” .
The piece has withstood the test of time, maintaining its standing as one of the most electrifying renditions ever heard on Carnival day. The band coasted to first prize in the Bomb Competition. The band’s recording of “Every Valley”, when it was released, remained atop the Radio Guardian Top Ten list longer than any other selection. The piece also led to a trail-blazing appearance of Highlanders at Trinity Cathedral, with the Cathedral choir. The band and choir would also be featured in the second Highlanders album, released by RCA in late 1966.
But the giddy triumph of the 1965 Carnival was unfortunately marred by the band getting caught up in Carnival street violence Carnival Tuesday afternoon. The incident necessarily soured things for the band and its supporters. Sadly, the band would find itself under similar assault three years later. But overall, the mid ‘60s turned out to be productive, fulfilling years for Highlanders. The 1965 bomb tune victory was followed by a third place finish in the 1966 Panorama (with “Obeah Wedding”) and a second Bomb Competition victory in 1967 (“Italian Girl in Algiers” by Rossini).
The band also had a decent sponsorship arrangement in place with Forsyth Shirts. However, when the band found itself waylaid again on the road during the 1968 Carnival, a dispirited Bertie even announced publicly that his band would no longer participate in the Carnival celebrations. Although he would have a change of heart about this, there were changes taking place both with Carnival and the local music scene generally. The sponsorship with Forsyth eventually ended and Bertie was successful in getting another sponsor from REED Trinidad Limited, a British paper bag manufacturer located in the Fernandes Industrial Complex. The REED sponsorship allowed Highlanders to continue performing as one of the top bands during that period, with its pan yard located at the corner of Erica Street and the Old St. Joseph Road, Laventille, the home of Bertie Marshall.
REED Highlanders during a practice session in the pan yard at the corner of Erica Street and the Old St. Joseph Road, Laventille .
Masqueraders were beginning to veer away from steel bands and toward amplified brass bands and the increasing presence of DJ music. Steel band stage sides were becoming less of a choice at private parties and public fetes, more so with combomania now very much a factor. Added to which, a few key figures that complemented Bertie in running the band in earlier years were no longer around in the late 60s, and it was only natural that the idea of putting together a band for Carnival, given the decline in lucrative pan activity the rest of the year, began to have less appeal for Bertie.
And having more time to focus on tuning and experimentation, which was his first love, was an option he didn’t mind at all. Although the band did hit the road for a couple of Carnivals into the 70s, much of the energy of previous years had dissipated. In the circumstances, making a full commitment to Desperadoes’ Rudolph Charles when he made a serious bid to harness Bertie’s talents for the band up the hill was, above all, a practical decision.
Although the period of Highlanders’ ranking among the elite bands was a pretty brief one, no true pan music aficionado could deny that the band absolutely belonged there. Led by one of the most gifted and visionary individuals to ever grace the pan world and with input from several others whose contributions made for an impressive overall package, the band carved a niche for itself of which everyone in the Highlanders family should feel enduring pride. When the NCC dedicated the Carnival of 2003 to Bertie Marshall and Highlanders, no one should have squawked. That too was a tribute well earned.
With his commitment to Desperadoes in full gear, Bertie continued to serve as a consultant, mentor and guide to the Highlanders he left behind. The period of the 1980’s and 1990’s was a most difficult and challenging period for the band. Community support waned as the magical genius of the Bertie Marshall stamp on the band drifted further away in the memories of Highlanders followers. Notwithstanding, the band was kept alive by dedicated pan lovers and die hard Highlanders loyalist.
One such band leader was Mervyn, who captained the band for many years while the band was on Wharton Street, Success Village, Laventille. Mervyn kept the band going for many years until his passing. Leadership of Highlanders was then passed on to a committee, led by Charlie Pinder, and included Jimmy Singh, Junior Mayers and Russell Richards. Under this committee, the band returned to its former location at the corner of Erica Street and the Old St. Joseph Road, Laventille, which was now a vacant lot.
It was now the early 2000’s, and Highlanders began to experience resurgence in popularity as the community welcomed the band back to its former location. The band brought back life to the corner, and there was the added feature of an emphasis being placed on recruiting youths to play in the band. A notable achievement of the band was the ceremony held in the pan yard in Bertie’s honour in 2003. It was an historic moment for the band as invited guest to the ceremony included Ministers of Government, the national press as well as other notable dignitaries.
The band was eventually evicted from its pan yard at the corner of Erica Street and the Old St. Joseph, Laventille. The owners of the property needed the space to build, and as such the band had to move again. It was now 2004, and the band sought refuge in an abandon NP gas station at the corner of William Street and the Eastern Main Road, Success Village Laventille. This space proved adequate and Highlanders was able to regroup. The committee under the leadership of Charlie worked very hard to keep the band alive. With no sponsorship, the Highlanders committee relied on personal funds and community support in order to purchase instruments to meet the recurring expenses associated with running a steel band.
The challenge of maintaining the band year after year proved too difficult for the existing committee, and in 2008 a new committee was formed to reorganize the band into a registered Not for Profit Company. This year also saw the departure of Charlie Pinder from the band.
It was December 2008 and Highlanders Steel Orchestra was formally registered as a Not for Profit Company with the Registrar General Office. The initial directors of record were Robert Hernandez, Dawan Jimmy Singh and Junior Mayers. The vision of this group was to build Highlanders Steel Orchestra into a community institution, where the steel band would be the attraction to capture and mould youths of the area into constructive, responsible and productive citizens. The vision also included the rebuilding of Highlanders Steel Orchestra into a first class steel band, befitting of its former glory days under the leadership of Bertie Marshall.
The first order of business for the new leadership of Highlanders was to pursue the acquisition of the site the band occupied from NP, either through a long term lease or outright purchase. Negotiations with NP continued throughout the years after 2008, with little progress as NP sought to frustrate the efforts of the Highlanders representatives. This did not dampen the spirits of the Highlanders Leaders, as they vowed to make this site the permanent home of Highlanders Steel Orchestra. There was widespread belief in the community that the turmoil and instability of the recent past was due in part to the fact that the band did not have a permanent home and was always on the move.
The passing of Bertie Marshall in October 2012 created a stir in the community and brought out Highlanders folks who had retired and were for the most part inactive. During a wake held at the corner of Erica Street and the Old St. Joseph Road several days after his passing, a group of former Highlanders members met and agreed to work together to help in bringing back the band. It was this expanded committee including former Highlanders veterans like Hamlet Yaxee Joseph, Victor Mickey Lamont, Vernon St Cyr, Claude Shields, Eisen Warner, Toney Slater, Hollis Kam, Alvin Romain, Teddy Belgrave, Gubbits Smalls and Umilta Marshall, together with Robbie Hernandez, Jimmy Singh and Junior Mayers that put new energy into the band. Highlanders was now on its way back in a big way.
The newly energized Highlanders committee got busy preparing the band for the upcoming carnival 2014 season. Practice sessions were conducted at the Success Central Community Centre, Marcella Street, Laventille. This venue provided a safer environment compared to the open and unprotected site of the pan yard at the corner of William Street and the Eastern Main Road, Laventille. With Gubbits Smalls, Alvin Romain, Tony Slater, Clifford “Rope” Alfred, Tony “Steel Ribbs” and Kelvin Hall assisting in arranging and providing music, the sound of Highlanders started to flow.
The committee also decided to honour the memory of Bertie Marshall by getting community support in the form of a petition, requesting the Government to rename the Old St. Joseph road in Success Village, Laventille to the Bertie Marshall Boulevard. The request by Highlanders to rename the Old St. Joseph road to the Bertie Marshall Boulevard was granted by cabinet on the 26th September 2013, and on the 26th October 2013, an unveiling ceremony was held at the corner of Erica Street and the Bertie Marshall Boulevard in Success Village, Laventille where a street sign with Bertie’s name was unveiled.
Street signage displaying Bertie Marshall Boulevard at the corner of Erica Street, Success Village, Laventille
Carnival 2014 saw a reorganized Highlanders Steel Orchestra take to the streets of Port of Spain on J’ouvert morning, carnival Monday night and carnival Tuesday night. Playing Gypso Rondo, a Highlanders classic, steel pan lovers listened and were captivated by the sound of sweet pan. The band was recognized by Pan Trinbago for a stellar performance.
A decision was taken to relocate the practice to the Uni-Stars pan yard, located at the corner of Mc Allister Street and Bertie Marshall Blvd. in Laventille. This facilitated improved practice sessions and participation by the community as musical arranger for Uni-Stars Kareem Brown was able to direct the musical arrangement for Highlanders. Carnival 2015 saw the band still in its rebuilding phase participate in the small band category of Pan Trinbago’s national panorama competition with arranger Kareem Brown, putting on an outstanding performance and winning the praise of the judges. The band continued to participate in the annual panorama competition, and in years 2017 and 2018 qualified as a semi-finalist in the small band category.
In 2016, the Music Literacy Trust of Trinidad and Tobago recognized the musical contribution of Highlanders Steel Orchestra by selecting six (6) tunes arranged by Bertie Marshall and played by the band for preservation by the trust. These musical scores will be made available to University and other Tertiary level institutions for use by students studying music produced locally.
In its continued efforts at securing a permanent home for the band, and after extensive and intense negotiations, Highlanders was notified in February 2015 of approval by the board of directors of NP to offer Highlanders Steel Orchestra a lease for a period of 99 years at a peppercorn rate. The band was further notified in April 2015 of approval by NP of Highlanders Steel Orchestra’s request for regularization of its occupancy status on NP’s property located at the corner of William Street and the Eastern Main Road, Success Village, Laventille (our pan yard). On 27 July 2018, a ninety nine (99) year lease agreement was finally signed between Highlanders Steel Orchestra and NP, granting the Steelband the legal right of tenancy to occupy its pan yard until July 2117.
While negotiating with NP for a long term lease, discussions began with the East Port of Spain Development Company Limited (EPOS) to secure funding for the construction of a modern Steel Band Theatre and Music Education Complex to be built on the site. In 2017, Highlanders was notified that partial funding for the development of the site was approved by the EPOS board of directors, and architectural design concepts were drawn and accepted by the band. Building plans were subsequently drawn and an application for permission to construct a new building was submitted to Town and Country Planning Division of the Ministry of Planning and Development. Town and Country approved the application on April 2, 2019 and final approval to proceed with construction is pending from the San Juan/Laventille Regional Corporation. Highlanders was also advised to pursue fund raising to meet the expected shortfall in the cost of construction that would be provided by EPOS. Fund raising efforts are currently underway.
The band is also continuing its efforts at Community building by being involved in the schools in the area. In partnership with SERVOL Life Skills Training Centre, Highlanders introduced a Music literacy training programme at the school, and is currently teaching students ages 12 to 16 years old music theory and the art of playing the steel pan.
Servol students being taught Music theory and Pan playing skills by band musician Louis Smith
The band has also formed alliances with the Secondary school and Primary schools in the community to teach music, and the first floor of the proposed new pan theatre is being designed to accommodate three classrooms for a Home Work Centre and an After School Music Education and Literacy Training Centre.
During the past four years, the band has been actively involved in sponsoring youths from the community who are band members in pursuing music literacy programs at the Republic Bank Pan Minors Music program held at the University of the West Indies. There are currently two band members ages 14 and 15 years old registered to attend this year’s program. In 2018, the band also sponsored one of its youths at the University of the West Indies to complete the grade one level music literacy programme, which he successfully passed with distinction.
This community involvement and support paid off during the 2020 Panorama competition when Highlanders returned to glory by putting on a spectacular performance by qualifying as a finalist and placing sixth in the small band category of the National Panorama Competition finals. See Highlanders performing on stage in front of the Grand Stand, Queen Park Savannah during Panorama finals 2020 by clicking this link: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=qi7MSxgkuTw
These developments, together with the successes achieved by the band to date, positions the band on a positive growth trend. With the assistance being sought from the various ministries and the private corporate sector, Highlanders Steel Orchestra will be able to make a valuable contribution in the development on the Laventille community.
Last updated – 15 April 2022. Robert Hernandez and Hollis Kam,
in collaboration with Leslie " Professor" Slater.
Subject to corrections/revisions.
Please send comments to : [email redacted]
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Highlanders Steel Orchestra is in the process of building a modern Pan Theatre at its Pan Yard location. The Pan Yard is located on the Eastern Main Road at the corner of William Street, Success Village, Laventille. The band secured a ninety nine (99) year lease on the property from the National Petroleum Marketing Company of Trinidad and Tobago (NP), and is getting some assistance from the East Port of Spain Development Company to begin developing the property. We are now seeking to raise funds to complete building the Pan Theatre and Music Institute. We are appealing to friends, family, Highlanders supporters, Laventillians or anyone who would like to assist in making this project a reality. When completed, the band will finally have a permanent home where band members and the community can come to with pride, and visiting members from abroad can congregate, enjoy pan music and socialize year round. Please assist by making a donation at the link above. Your assistance will also aid in the redevelopment of the Success Village, Laventille community.Site of Highlanders Steel Orchestra, Eastern Main Road, corner of William street, Success Village, laventille
The Pan Theatre will consist of a two (2) storey concrete building and a steel pavilion practice area for the steel orchestra. The grounds of the pan yard will be paved, with adequate parking spaces and a bleachers seating area for supporters and visitors.
Completed two (2) storey building currently on site.The first floor of the building will comprise of three (3) classrooms which are separated by full height accordion bi-fold doors and male and female washrooms. The ground floor of the building will comprise of a storage area for instruments, a cafeteria, an artisan booth, an office, a conference room and male and female washrooms.
This Pan Theatre will provide the Success Village, Laventille community with a modern facility where opportunities for the development of culture and education can be embraced by all.
The band currently shares space with Uni Stars Steel Orchestra at their pan yard located on the Bertie Marshall Boulevard at the corner of Mc Allister Street, Success Village, Laventille. View a sample clip of this year's 2019 Panorama selection:
HIGHLANDERS STEEL ORCHESTRA
BIOGRAPHY – The Highlanders story
The history of Highlanders Steel Orchestra extends back to 1953 when the band was first organized by Kim Loy Wong, and was based at Mango Rose, Port of Spain. in 1958, Kim Loy Wong
Kim Loy Wong migrated to New York and on a return trip to Trinidad in 1961, while staying at his sister’s home on the Eastern Main Road in Laventille, he had the opportunity to hear Bertie Marshall’s band,
Bertie MarshallArmed Forces (so named because of their frequent gigs at the Chaguaramas Base) when they practiced at the corner of Old St. Joseph Road and Erica Street, Success Village Laventille. It was at Bertie Marshall’s Armed Forces pan yard that Kim Loy Wong was introduced to instruments tuned by Bertie that, as Wong would say, “were like nothing I had ever heard before.” His fascination with this revolution in sound, to which he was witness, was what got Wong to thinking of the seemingly outlandish idea of extending his stay through Carnival 1962 so as to collaborate with Bertie in bringing a reconstituted Highlanders on the road.
Bertie was agreeable once Wong was committed to providing the resources necessary for getting the band road-ready. Players for the band were drawn from a motley collection of active and former pan sides: Armed Forces, the defunct Highlanders, Leslie “Professor” Slater’s band, William “Bootooman” Philips’ band, Savoys and Laventille’s onetime Kentuckians and Unique bands. The new Highlanders made an immediate impression, with the pronounced jazzy influence in its music and of course the signature Bertie Marshall tone of the instruments.
In a prelude of things to come, the band also made a splash with its bomb tune, which was”Waltz from Faust”. That first year also saw some minor “turf” problems within the band, with some in the Armed Forces clan showing slight resentment against what they considered the interloping Highlanders folk and insisting that their tee shirts be emblazoned with “Armed Forces Highlanders” in preference to “Highlanders”. Thankfully, the power of the music was all it took to eradicate all vestiges of dissatisfaction with the Highlanders name, and it was as Highlanders that the band proceeded to write its name into the annals of steel band lore.
Not surprisingly, the fetching music produced by the band made it attractive to fete promoters. In due course Highlanders would play in all the major fete venues – Port Services, Perseverance, Guardian, Palms Club, etc – invariably featured with one or two of the leading dance bands. It is no exaggeration to say that Highlanders often proved to be the major attraction on the bill. For the Carnival seasons of 1963 and ’64, the band maintained a routine of beginning its preparation for the season in Laventille and moving into Mango Rose as Carnival drew closer.
After Carnival of ’64 Telco recorded the band for its first commercial album. The release of that recording in April of ’64 was a watershed development for the band, as the album was an instant hit, both Radio Trinidad and Radio Guardian selecting material for their play lists almost on a daily basis for months. The upshot of which was the band’s popularity zoomed and with it, increased demand for Highlanders’ services. In 1964, too, Bertie was heavily into his experimentation in amplification to enhance the band’s sound. Bertie first did partial amplification (of the soprano pan, which he played) in fetes and other public appearances. It was all building toward the banner year that 1965 would prove to be.
A strategic decision was made for Carnival 1965 regarding the mas Highlanders would bring. It was felt that given the band’s unprecedented popularity, it should make a change from the type of mas presented from ’62 to ’64 (Indians, Pirates…) and go instead for a mas of high-volume potential, that being a sailor band. The tactic was a winning one, as Highlanders unveiled one of the largest sailor bands ever seen on the streets of the city. There were other elements contributing to the specialness of 1965. For one thing, Bertie was ready to give his amplification experiment its first road test, a new feature that created quite a buzz. But there was also tremendous excitement created by the piece Bertie had insightfully settled on as the bomb tune, Handel’s “Every Valley Shall Be Exalted” .
The piece has withstood the test of time, maintaining its standing as one of the most electrifying renditions ever heard on Carnival day. The band coasted to first prize in the Bomb Competition. The band’s recording of “Every Valley”, when it was released, remained atop the Radio Guardian Top Ten list longer than any other selection. The piece also led to a trail-blazing appearance of Highlanders at Trinity Cathedral, with the Cathedral choir. The band and choir would also be featured in the second Highlanders album, released by RCA in late 1966.
But the giddy triumph of the 1965 Carnival was unfortunately marred by the band getting caught up in Carnival street violence Carnival Tuesday afternoon. The incident necessarily soured things for the band and its supporters. Sadly, the band would find itself under similar assault three years later. But overall, the mid ‘60s turned out to be productive, fulfilling years for Highlanders. The 1965 bomb tune victory was followed by a third place finish in the 1966 Panorama (with “Obeah Wedding”) and a second Bomb Competition victory in 1967 (“Italian Girl in Algiers” by Rossini).
The band also had a decent sponsorship arrangement in place with Forsyth Shirts. However, when the band found itself waylaid again on the road during the 1968 Carnival, a dispirited Bertie even announced publicly that his band would no longer participate in the Carnival celebrations. Although he would have a change of heart about this, there were changes taking place both with Carnival and the local music scene generally. The sponsorship with Forsyth eventually ended and Bertie was successful in getting another sponsor from REED Trinidad Limited, a British paper bag manufacturer located in the Fernandes Industrial Complex. The REED sponsorship allowed Highlanders to continue performing as one of the top bands during that period, with its pan yard located at the corner of Erica Street and the Old St. Joseph Road, Laventille, the home of Bertie Marshall.
REED Highlanders during a practice session in the pan yard at the corner of Erica Street and the Old St. Joseph Road, Laventille .Masqueraders were beginning to veer away from steel bands and toward amplified brass bands and the increasing presence of DJ music. Steel band stage sides were becoming less of a choice at private parties and public fetes, more so with combomania now very much a factor. Added to which, a few key figures that complemented Bertie in running the band in earlier years were no longer around in the late 60s, and it was only natural that the idea of putting together a band for Carnival, given the decline in lucrative pan activity the rest of the year, began to have less appeal for Bertie.
And having more time to focus on tuning and experimentation, which was his first love, was an option he didn’t mind at all. Although the band did hit the road for a couple of Carnivals into the 70s, much of the energy of previous years had dissipated. In the circumstances, making a full commitment to Desperadoes’ Rudolph Charles when he made a serious bid to harness Bertie’s talents for the band up the hill was, above all, a practical decision.
Although the period of Highlanders’ ranking among the elite bands was a pretty brief one, no true pan music aficionado could deny that the band absolutely belonged there. Led by one of the most gifted and visionary individuals to ever grace the pan world and with input from several others whose contributions made for an impressive overall package, the band carved a niche for itself of which everyone in the Highlanders family should feel enduring pride. When the NCC dedicated the Carnival of 2003 to Bertie Marshall and Highlanders, no one should have squawked. That too was a tribute well earned.
With his commitment to Desperadoes in full gear, Bertie continued to serve as a consultant, mentor and guide to the Highlanders he left behind. The period of the 1980’s and 1990’s was a most difficult and challenging period for the band. Community support waned as the magical genius of the Bertie Marshall stamp on the band drifted further away in the memories of Highlanders followers. Notwithstanding, the band was kept alive by dedicated pan lovers and die hard Highlanders loyalist.
One such band leader was Mervyn, who captained the band for many years while the band was on Wharton Street, Success Village, Laventille. Mervyn kept the band going for many years until his passing. Leadership of Highlanders was then passed on to a committee, led by Charlie Pinder, and included Jimmy Singh, Junior Mayers and Russell Richards. Under this committee, the band returned to its former location at the corner of Erica Street and the Old St. Joseph Road, Laventille, which was now a vacant lot.
It was now the early 2000’s, and Highlanders began to experience resurgence in popularity as the community welcomed the band back to its former location. The band brought back life to the corner, and there was the added feature of an emphasis being placed on recruiting youths to play in the band. A notable achievement of the band was the ceremony held in the pan yard in Bertie’s honour in 2003. It was an historic moment for the band as invited guest to the ceremony included Ministers of Government, the national press as well as other notable dignitaries.
The band was eventually evicted from its pan yard at the corner of Erica Street and the Old St. Joseph, Laventille. The owners of the property needed the space to build, and as such the band had to move again. It was now 2004, and the band sought refuge in an abandon NP gas station at the corner of William Street and the Eastern Main Road, Success Village Laventille. This space proved adequate and Highlanders was able to regroup. The committee under the leadership of Charlie worked very hard to keep the band alive. With no sponsorship, the Highlanders committee relied on personal funds and community support in order to purchase instruments to meet the recurring expenses associated with running a steel band.
The challenge of maintaining the band year after year proved too difficult for the existing committee, and in 2008 a new committee was formed to reorganize the band into a registered Not for Profit Company. This year also saw the departure of Charlie Pinder from the band.
It was December 2008 and Highlanders Steel Orchestra was formally registered as a Not for Profit Company with the Registrar General Office. The initial directors of record were Robert Hernandez, Dawan Jimmy Singh and Junior Mayers. The vision of this group was to build Highlanders Steel Orchestra into a community institution, where the steel band would be the attraction to capture and mould youths of the area into constructive, responsible and productive citizens. The vision also included the rebuilding of Highlanders Steel Orchestra into a first class steel band, befitting of its former glory days under the leadership of Bertie Marshall.
The first order of business for the new leadership of Highlanders was to pursue the acquisition of the site the band occupied from NP, either through a long term lease or outright purchase. Negotiations with NP continued throughout the years after 2008, with little progress as NP sought to frustrate the efforts of the Highlanders representatives. This did not dampen the spirits of the Highlanders Leaders, as they vowed to make this site the permanent home of Highlanders Steel Orchestra. There was widespread belief in the community that the turmoil and instability of the recent past was due in part to the fact that the band did not have a permanent home and was always on the move.
The passing of Bertie Marshall in October 2012 created a stir in the community and brought out Highlanders folks who had retired and were for the most part inactive. During a wake held at the corner of Erica Street and the Old St. Joseph Road several days after his passing, a group of former Highlanders members met and agreed to work together to help in bringing back the band. It was this expanded committee including former Highlanders veterans like Hamlet Yaxee Joseph, Victor Mickey Lamont, Vernon St Cyr, Claude Shields, Eisen Warner, Toney Slater, Hollis Kam, Alvin Romain, Teddy Belgrave, Gubbits Smalls and Umilta Marshall, together with Robbie Hernandez, Jimmy Singh and Junior Mayers that put new energy into the band. Highlanders was now on its way back in a big way.
The newly energized Highlanders committee got busy preparing the band for the upcoming carnival 2014 season. Practice sessions were conducted at the Success Central Community Centre, Marcella Street, Laventille. This venue provided a safer environment compared to the open and unprotected site of the pan yard at the corner of William Street and the Eastern Main Road, Laventille. With Gubbits Smalls, Alvin Romain, Tony Slater, Clifford “Rope” Alfred, Tony “Steel Ribbs” and Kelvin Hall assisting in arranging and providing music, the sound of Highlanders started to flow.
The committee also decided to honour the memory of Bertie Marshall by getting community support in the form of a petition, requesting the Government to rename the Old St. Joseph road in Success Village, Laventille to the Bertie Marshall Boulevard. The request by Highlanders to rename the Old St. Joseph road to the Bertie Marshall Boulevard was granted by cabinet on the 26th September 2013, and on the 26th October 2013, an unveiling ceremony was held at the corner of Erica Street and the Bertie Marshall Boulevard in Success Village, Laventille where a street sign with Bertie’s name was unveiled.
Street signage displaying Bertie Marshall Boulevard at the corner of Erica Street, Success Village, LaventilleCarnival 2014 saw a reorganized Highlanders Steel Orchestra take to the streets of Port of Spain on J’ouvert morning, carnival Monday night and carnival Tuesday night. Playing Gypso Rondo, a Highlanders classic, steel pan lovers listened and were captivated by the sound of sweet pan. The band was recognized by Pan Trinbago for a stellar performance.
A decision was taken to relocate the practice to the Uni-Stars pan yard, located at the corner of Mc Allister Street and Bertie Marshall Blvd. in Laventille. This facilitated improved practice sessions and participation by the community as musical arranger for Uni-Stars Kareem Brown was able to direct the musical arrangement for Highlanders. Carnival 2015 saw the band still in its rebuilding phase participate in the small band category of Pan Trinbago’s national panorama competition with arranger Kareem Brown, putting on an outstanding performance and winning the praise of the judges. The band continued to participate in the annual panorama competition, and in years 2017 and 2018 qualified as a semi-finalist in the small band category.
In 2016, the Music Literacy Trust of Trinidad and Tobago recognized the musical contribution of Highlanders Steel Orchestra by selecting six (6) tunes arranged by Bertie Marshall and played by the band for preservation by the trust. These musical scores will be made available to University and other Tertiary level institutions for use by students studying music produced locally.
In its continued efforts at securing a permanent home for the band, and after extensive and intense negotiations, Highlanders was notified in February 2015 of approval by the board of directors of NP to offer Highlanders Steel Orchestra a lease for a period of 99 years at a peppercorn rate. The band was further notified in April 2015 of approval by NP of Highlanders Steel Orchestra’s request for regularization of its occupancy status on NP’s property located at the corner of William Street and the Eastern Main Road, Success Village, Laventille (our pan yard). On 27 July 2018, a ninety nine (99) year lease agreement was finally signed between Highlanders Steel Orchestra and NP, granting the Steelband the legal right of tenancy to occupy its pan yard until July 2117.
While negotiating with NP for a long term lease, discussions began with the East Port of Spain Development Company Limited (EPOS) to secure funding for the construction of a modern Steel Band Theatre and Music Education Complex to be built on the site. In 2017, Highlanders was notified that partial funding for the development of the site was approved by the EPOS board of directors, and architectural design concepts were drawn and accepted by the band. Building plans were subsequently drawn and an application for permission to construct a new building was submitted to Town and Country Planning Division of the Ministry of Planning and Development. Town and Country approved the application on April 2, 2019 and final approval to proceed with construction is pending from the San Juan/Laventille Regional Corporation. Highlanders was also advised to pursue fund raising to meet the expected shortfall in the cost of construction that would be provided by EPOS. Fund raising efforts are currently underway.
The band is also continuing its efforts at Community building by being involved in the schools in the area. In partnership with SERVOL Life Skills Training Centre, Highlanders introduced a Music literacy training programme at the school, and is currently teaching students ages 12 to 16 years old music theory and the art of playing the steel pan.
Servol students being taught Music theory and Pan playing skills by band musician Louis SmithThe band has also formed alliances with the Secondary school and Primary schools in the community to teach music, and the first floor of the proposed new pan theatre is being designed to accommodate three classrooms for a Home Work Centre and an After School Music Education and Literacy Training Centre.
During the past four years, the band has been actively involved in sponsoring youths from the community who are band members in pursuing music literacy programs at the Republic Bank Pan Minors Music program held at the University of the West Indies. There are currently two band members ages 14 and 15 years old registered to attend this year’s program. In 2018, the band also sponsored one of its youths at the University of the West Indies to complete the grade one level music literacy programme, which he successfully passed with distinction.
This community involvement and support paid off during the 2020 Panorama competition when Highlanders returned to glory by putting on a spectacular performance by qualifying as a finalist and placing sixth in the small band category of the National Panorama Competition finals. See Highlanders performing on stage in front of the Grand Stand, Queen Park Savannah during Panorama finals 2020 by clicking this link: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=qi7MSxgkuTw
These developments, together with the successes achieved by the band to date, positions the band on a positive growth trend. With the assistance being sought from the various ministries and the private corporate sector, Highlanders Steel Orchestra will be able to make a valuable contribution in the development on the Laventille community.
Last updated – 15 April 2022. Robert Hernandez and Hollis Kam,
in collaboration with Leslie " Professor" Slater.
Subject to corrections/revisions.
Please send comments to : [email redacted]
Organizer
Robert Hernandez
Organizer
Boynton Beach, FL
