Tony “Pan Jumbie” Williams’ story is ne of passion and dedication to the steelpan art form. But in this chapter, he is faced with some serious challenges to his legacy and indeed his life, as he battles the complexities of diabetes and its debilitating effects. But Tony is focused on one objective; acquiring some prosthetics for his amputated legs so he can resume his love of teaching the steelpan art form to the youth of Trinidad and Tobago.

Gofundme: https://gofundme/7216af59

Born in Trinidad, Tony has embraced the roots of his early life spent in Tobago. Self-taught in most areas of his life, his goal has been to be the best pannist in the world. In his own words “I didn't finish school. I always try to my best in everything I could do in life, but my brain couldn't take as much in the school category. Is more when I came out of school I start learning things. My whole head was to be the best pannist in the world.”

Gofundme: https://gofundme/7216af59

His passion and commitment to promoting the steel pan art form has led to extensive travel, on behalf of the Trinidad government in tours throughout Europe, Japan, and the United States conducting workshops, performances and promoting tourism.
Tony loves kids, so he teaches pan in many schools and believes that keeping youth empowered and developing their creative skillsets will offer exposure to career paths and inspire them to positively contribute to society.
You can help Tony by contributing to his GoFundMe at the link below. Help Tony get back on his feet again!

Gofundme: https://gofundme/7216af59

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When you follow your bliss, the synchronicities are ecstatically validating with rewards beyond your dreams, not necessarily making a living but living a love. The unassuming St. Lucian pannist, composer, arranger Allison Marquis truly exemplifies this sentiment with eight Panorama Championships and already eyeing next year for number nine.

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The new business model for the Steelpan industry is an ecosystem based on collaboration rather than competition. Akua Leith explains the pillars and principles that guide this system in the founding of MITTCO (Musical Instruments of Trinidad and Tobago Company LTD).

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"Be like water" was Bruce Lee's famous admonition. For Victor Provost, Pan was the instrument he played growing up on St. John in the Virgin Islands. Jazz was the music he loved. The melding of the two was no conscious exploration, it was an organic evolution. Performing and sharing this gift was what he was used to, until Covid struck. Then he pivoted to his other love, teaching and sharing what he had uniquely developed. "Water!"

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One of the steelpan art form's prodigious talents talks about the challenges of building an identity outside of conditioned perceptions in the music industry and the indigenous culture from which it emerged.

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“In the US, every instrument…guitar, trumpet, piano, has its own society where people who are interested…or are practitioners and teachers in that discipline, get together at conferences, via professional journals, websites; and they share best practices, ideas,…what has worked, what hasn’t worked, what are their challenges, so that we’re not reinventing the wheel every time somebody wants to do this thing.” – Chris Tanner
And that, essentially is what the NSSBE provides for the Steelpan art form in the US.

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Sons don't always follow in their Dad's footsteps, especially when Dad has already created some pretty big shoes to fill. But when a son matches his Dad's passion and potential for a particular preoccupation, the promise is priceless. Listen as TNTeague
share their passion for Pan.

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"Some are born great, some achieve greatness, and some have greatness thrust upon them." Jonathan Scales never set out to be different in the steelpan fraternity. He was just being himself, playing the music he loved and found himself taking Pan where it had never been. Listen to Jonathan's story, an unlikely saga that grows with every note he plays.

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