Starlift's 51st Anniversary Celebration
"A Night of Champions"
Starlift's Josanne Francis
TrinbagoPan.com Reporters
Event Date: September 21, 2007
Posted: October 05, 2007
PCS Starlift Steel Orchestra celebrated its 51st anniversary in grand style on Friday 21st September, 2007, with an explosive Pan concert titled "A Night of Champions" featuring some of the country's top Steelbands. Phase II Pan Grove, Witco Desperadoes and Renegades joined with three time Panorama champions, Starlift, to celebrate this milestone with their respective Pan offerings to the appreciative audience at Starlift's House of Music Panyard in Mucurapo.
Starlift's Woman on the Bass
Led by captain Barry Mannette, Starlift Steel Ochestra kicked off the proceedings just after nine o'clock, playing a slew of popular songs for about 30 minutes. Their collection ranged from Calypso and Soca to Reggae and R&B songs with such renditions as Shadow's "Dingolay", Ella Andell's "Dancing", Celine Dion's "To Love You More", Sparrow's "Du Du Yemi" and a Bob Marley medley. Playing crisply and clearly, their strong performance was in keeping with the joyous nature of the proceedings. The audience, by their dancing and applause, thoroughly enjoyed the performance.
Phase II Pan Groove
Playing under a large white tent, Phase II Pan Groove followed next with their selection of songs. People soon gathered around the tent to get closer to the sounds of the sweet Pan music. They played such songs as "Close to You", "Niceness", "Lovers After All", "Woman is Boss" and "Sharing Licks" to the delight of the onlooking Pan lovers.
BP Renegades
Charlotte Street powerhouse BP Renegades Steel Orchestra, nine time Panorama winners, followed and celebrated Starlift's 51st anniversary with the same style and dynamism that has seen them achieve a hat-trick of Panorama victories and qualify for every single Panorama finals since 1978. They played such songs as "Feel So good", "Nah Going Home", "Woman By My Side", Kitchener's "Pan in A Minor", All Night Long", "So Much Trouble", "Fever", "My Pussin" and "Mas in May".
An enthusiastic Desperadoes fan motions to a player
Ten time Panorama Champions, Witco Desperadoes, popularly described as the 'Pride of Laventille' was the final champion band of the night, and they had patrons asking for more as they unleashed a sweet round of Pan music for the audience. They played such songs as Oba's "Pan in My House", "Somebody", "The Jammers", "Don't Make Me Wait Too Long", "Overjoyed", Toto's "Africa", "Ordinary People", "Rebecca" and "Tangerine".
Starlift's Captain, Barry Mannette
The captain Barry Mannette, in a brief interview with TrinbagoPan.com, expressed that Starlift formed as a breakaway from Invaders and since then they have been trendsetters in their own right, being the first band to play their own tune for Panorama and the first band to use Pan on wheels. The legacy of Starlift in the Pan fraternity seems assured as Barry remarked that they have a very vibrant youth arm which participates vigorously in the activities of Starlift. Barry Mannette expressed gratitude to Starlift's supporters for their support over the years and remarked that the public should lookout for Starlift in Panorama 2008.
Starlift's 51th Anniversary Celebration in pictures:
www.trinbagopan.com/gallery2/main.php?g2_itemId=20090
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