Trinidad & Tobago gains independence from Great Britain on August 31st, 1962   Image Source The Government of the Republic of Trinidad & Tobago.

First Steelpan performance outside of Trinidad and Tobago   Image Source GETTY / BBC

Implementation of overtones, wooden mallets, 55-gallon oil drums, and layout of the tenor pan in 4ths and 5ths Growing pains for the Steelband movement as artform comes under attack Ellie Mannette develops the chromatic tonal structure of the tenor pan and migrates to the USA Steelband ensemble established in Puerto Rico   Image Source NALIS. […]

Revellers parade the streets of Port of Spain “They waved branches and chanted songs to the accompaniment of music thumped out of old iron” (Trinidad Gazette, March 8th, 1945)   Image Source NALIS. Taken From “The Illustrated Story of Pan, Kim Johnson.”

The “ping pong” – A small hand-held pan cut from an empty paint tin or carbide container Ensembles now consists of the five-note tenor kittle, a two-note bass drum or “du-dup”, bottle and spoon, brake drums, a cuff boom, graters, and other metal objects USA establish an Army base in Trinidad – Empty oil drums […]

Metal Bands replace Tamboo Bamboo ensembles Musical instruments made from garbage bins and covers, biscuit drums, paint cans, brake drums, chamber pots, and bottles and spoons   Image Source NALIS. Taken From “The Trinidad & Tobago Steelpan: History and Evolution, Dr. F.I.R. Blake.”

Tamboo* Bamboo ensemble replaces African drums An ensemble included different lengths and sizes of bamboo which simulated the four main voices of music: Soprano, Alto, Tenor, and Bass (*Tambour)   Image Source: NALIS. Taken From “The Trinidad & Tobago Steelpan: History and Evolution, Dr. F.I.R. Blake.”