1:55CGood morning.
1:56AAll right, and the Brown Boys.
1:59CGood morning.
2:00AVery good. And Malik, and of course Mr. Paul at the controls. Good morning. Yo, what up? Oh, what up?
2:09BGood morning.
2:10AAll right, and joining us online, Marcy Tellison. I believe Garvin is there. Thank you so much for joining us this morning. We have something special in store. So we greet all our listeners, especially those of you joining us for the first time. 60 minutes of the finest steel pan recordings and talk that inspires, informs, empowers is ahead. Our musical theme pays tribute to Calypsonian soca artist Winston Bailey, also known as Mighty Shadow. Shadow, an extraordinary and internationally regarded lyricist, composer, and human being. He passed away in Tobago on Tuesday, October 23rd. While we have lost a great musician, we celebrate his musical legacy. Asa.
3:05BOne Day at a Time is our opening selection with Jama Stewart from the album The Voices of Pan on the Hartiklo label. Steel Pan Vibes radio show is brought to you by Thrifty Specialty Produce and Meats of Palm Bay. Thrifty Specialty Produce and Meats of Palm Bay offers a wide selection of fresh fruit, vegetables, fish, and meat for the international palate. Frozen foods, fresh dairy, and hot food at the deli are also available, as well as wholesale and catering services. Now available at Thrifty, money transfer services to Haiti, Jamaica, and the Caribbean. Thrifty Specialty Produce of Palm Bay is located at 2135 Palm Bay Road. Call [number removed]. Again, that’s [number removed] at Thrifty Specialty Produce and Meats. Freshness is guaranteed.
6:01AOh, we gotta thank Tellison and Wayne and Nyasha, Adrian, for joining us this morning. And by the way, Nyasha, a very talented young lady who teaches in Brooklyn music, steel pan, She is also talented on the board, so she sent me all the music that we’re gonna play today. She knows her mom don’t have those skills yet to convert those files to MP3, so I want to thank her, folks. She did a very good job. Now, who we gonna hear from? I think we’re gonna be hearing -- I hope we hear from Edgar today to tell us what’s on sale Thrifty.
6:44BAll right, you are listening to the Steel Pan Vibes It’s More Than Music radio show on 1510 AM WWBC 94.7, 99.9, 100.7 FM in Brevard County, plus streaming live online at facebook.com/steelpanvibes and 1510wwbc.com, available on app WWBC for Androids and iPhones. Thanks for joining us for our More Voices with Steel musical mix.
7:16AAll right, well, we are celebrating and paying tribute to the mighty Shadow. Some of Shadow’s compositions are better known than others. Here’s one I just learned about. It’s performed by Siparia Deltones Steel Orchestra, arranged by Carlton Alexander called Let’s Dance or Naked Rhythm.
11:02BThe Steel Pan Vibes is more than music radio show. Has been on the air for eight years because our sponsors make it possible. Please, it’s absolutely necessary for you to give our sponsors your support so we can continue to bring the Steel Pan Vibes Is More Than Music radio show to you. Please remember to go to the Steel Pan Vibes Is More Than Music Facebook page anytime. Select videos to see what you’ve missed. Of course, you can like, comment, and share our page. Steel Pan Vibes is brought to you by Brown’s Bakery and Restaurant for mouth-watering baked goods, soups, beverages, and meals. From patties to rock cake, chicken to goat head soup, juices to coconut water, and West Indian style meals from jerk chicken to oxtails and delicious roti too, all at Brown’s Bakery and Restaurant located at 1155 Malabar Road inside the Interchange Plaza. Call [number removed]. [number removed]. Catering also available. Brown’s Bakery and Restaurant. Taste the difference. You can’t resist.
12:07DYou can’t resist.
18:17AOkay, okay. Well, good morning to Manolin Silva. He’s in Vieques. Good morning, Manolin. Uh, the island of Puerto Rico. He’s a Panist as well, so we’re saying good morning and thank you for joining us. So what did that set begin with? Wap Kokie. You know, wap kokie -- kokie brooms are what you get licks with while they sweep the yards. That’s the purpose. But you could get licks with that when you misbehave and you pass by your mom or your grandmother while she’s sweeping the yard. You could get a wap kokie.
18:50CWAP Coquiere.
18:51AAnybody could get a WAP Coquiere. So that was Desperado Steel Orchestra doing Shadows, WAP Coquiere, arranged by the master Clive Bradley, followed by another Bradley arrangement for Pantonic Steel Orchestra, and that tune was Stranger from the album Tonic for the Soul. More in a tribute to the mighty Shadows. Coming up, stay tuned.
19:20BIf you’re just joining us, this is the Steel Pan Vibes. It’s more than music radio, radio, radio show. Today we pay tribute to an extraordinary talent, the mighty Shadow. Unique, poignant, political, and extremely funny. Thank you for joining us. More music from Shadow after this word from one of our sponsors.
19:40EI’ve been listening to the voice of our community to fully understand the needs and concerns of our citizens. I’ve heard terrible road conditions, underfunded public services, poorly performed schools, and a litany of others. They all have one thing in common: fiscal irresponsibility. This is the current environment of our city, and it’s time for a change. I believe in honesty, integrity, and transparency, and that is the environment you deserve. My name is Kenny Johnson, and I’m running for Palm Bay City Council Seat 4.
20:11ASo folks, reacting to the death of Winston Bailey, also known as Mighty Shadow, The Prime Minister of Trinidad and Tobago, Dr. Keith Rowley, said he, and I quote, revolutionized the calypso world with his haunting sound and unique delivery, which he crafted and perfected in an impressive catalog of work spanning several decades. He was an original in all his various musical creations. His music told us stories about ourselves through poignant social commentary, which was often fused with wry humor. And that’s true. Over the years, his contribution to the development of our local music earned him regional and international acclaim, end quote. And I just saw a post where Billboard magazine is recognizing him for his work in music. That’s great. That’s really, really impressive. What do you think? Yeah, I agree.
21:21CWhen you’re recognized by Billboard, then they’re the biggest ones there, you know, that they are.
21:25ASo you’re in, you’re in.
21:27EYes.
21:27AI see. But he, he was out for a lot of time, and we’re going to talk about that too. Dwayne, uh, you want to tell us, um, before we get to your guest in the spotlight, Shun McGhee. He’s a rap artist and founder of the band Black History. Tell us what you think is the most compelling part or aspect of Shadow’s legacy, something you admire about him.
21:52CWell, one thing that I admire about him, and it’s relevant to a topic that we’ve talked about a couple times when I was on the show before about restoring the African mind, and one of the, one of the important aspects about Shadow’s music, he was very fearless and unapologetic about that African identity in his music. He touched on a lot of things that we as Caribbean people don’t really like to discuss very much in terms of our African heritage. He spoke about the importance of our African identity, even certain cultural aspects of that. For example, obia. Obia is something a lot of Caribbean people fear.
22:23CShadow sang very openly about that in his music, including the tune that we were just listening to, Wap Kok. Yeah, the topic about that was actually about a man who had lost his lover, and he was going to the obia man To get his lover back. So you know Shadow, he did it in a very humorous and satirical way, but he was talking about some serious topics in terms of as African people, as Caribbean people, we have a cultural heritage that we shouldn’t run away from, that we shouldn’t be afraid of, that we should celebrate. And I think one of the important things about Shadow is in his music he sang about it and he honored that heritage.
22:55AVery true, very true. I agree with that totally. Paul, more on our tribute. Salute to the Shadow from Cureps Chazando Steel Orchestra performing a Johann Poppel arrangement of the 1974 Road March. He did win a Road March.
23:11FBassman.
27:08AOkay, we just want to welcome Clayton Bell. He’s listening from Houston, Texas. Wow, we love it when our listeners come from all over, you know. Um, Clayton, by the way, I’m inviting him to come on the show to talk about flag waving for Despos. These are all parts of the steel band tradition, and people hardly know about it. They may just see somebody in front of the band waving the flag. They don’t know that’s coming from way, way back. So hopefully he’s going to join us sometime soon to talk about flag waving. In the meantime, we do have some information for those living in Brevard County.
27:52AThrifty Specialty Produce and Meats, they have a sale going on from yesterday or Wednesday until the 31st, next Wednesday of October. And this is what’s on sale. You know, when you’re getting all those nice dishes together, Alberta corn oil, 17.5 pounds $10.98. You get 2 cans of Goya canned beans, assorted varieties, 2 for $4. You get frozen kingfish steaks -- ooh, for those of you into the fish -- $4.98 a pound. Tomatoes, plum tomatoes, 88 cents a pound. Yellow bananas, 48 cents a pound. Sweet potatoes -- I love baked sweet potatoes. 48 cents a pound. I mean, you just go there and get your stuff. Whole chicken wings, family pack on sale.
28:53AChicken wings are very expensive. $1.78 a pound. That’s cheap. So you better go out there and get those chicken wings. All right, that’s at Thrifty Specialty Produce and Meats. They have deli for hot foods and all those good things. Where are they located? 2135 Palm Bay Road. Road, 2135 Palm Bay Road. If you have any questions, [number removed]. [number removed]. And that’s an international grocery, bakery, hot food, seafood, meat, and fresh, fresh produce. So get down to Thrifty. Who knows, they might be listening there. And if they are, good morning.
29:38FGood morning.
29:39AGood evening to all our good friends at Thrifty. From all of us at the Steel Pan Vibes, it’s more than music radio show. What’s coming up next? Meritone Steel Orchestra from the village of Digga Martin. That’s where I was raised in Trinidad and Tobago, doing a Kendall Lewis arrangement of Tempo. I just have a little bit of information to share about my personal experience with the Mighty Shadow. I remember meeting him once backstage at Madison Square Garden. It was one of those Mother’s Day concerts, and he was scheduled to perform late. He was last on the program. But apparently the show went overtime and he didn’t get to perform.
33:33ASo I looked at him and he looked really disappointed, but for some reason it seemed like he was used to that experience, being left out, being left back. And maybe, maybe, just maybe, that fueled his creativity, uh, helping to make him the extraordinary artist he is today. artist that he was. And also, we need to remember and recognize Art Decoto, his music director, who gave such excellent instrumentation to the music of the Mighty Shadow. Dwayne, I think your guest is ready in the spotlight, but we’re going to play a little of his music. And the song we’re going to play from Shun McGhee and Black History is called Way I need to live a little.
35:05GWell, I know my plan became overkill. It came to me like a genius thought. If I kept picking at the scabs, how could I expect to heal? So I kept it real with myself. I’m all I was given. I would never get nobody else. So stop waiting at the door for a new improved model of me and fall in love with Shun. I’m Omar McGhee. Peace finally. The last 20 years been like a civil war inside of me. People like I never knew. I’m one way in the public, but I could never lie to me. Constantly reminding myself of my failures, but never all that I could be. Wake up, splash some water on your face. Wake up, I know it’s all that I can take. Face up, I know you wanted me to make a fool out of me, but I never give you the satisfaction. It’s become my new mission in life to live it. Instead of a right, I consider it a privilege. Every day a new poem. I wrote in 24 hours, I write one each dawn.
36:02CGood morning, Shun.
36:04DHey, good morning, this is Dwayne?
36:06CYes, how are you doing?
36:08DMorning, good, man, how are you?
36:09CGood, okay, so our first question of the interview is the name of your band is Black History. How did you come up with that name and what’s the significance of that name?
36:20DOkay, uh, kind of a funny story about how I came up with the name. Uh, so the name, I was, uh, years ago I was dating this girl and we were going, I think, into the grocery store and I was just kind of kidding around. I said something like, uh, ladies and gentlemen, Black History. And I looked at her, she looked at me, and we were like, oh, Black History. So that’s how I came up with the name. Nothing really deep, nothing or something like that. But then the significance of the name is I wanted to make music so important that it would one day be regarded as Black history. So Black History.
37:00COkay. And would you say Black history is actually a significant source of inspiration for your music?
37:05DI mean, I’d say so, right, because my father reared me to be a real history rebuff. And so in learning so much and thirsting so much about the knowledge of self and Black history, I mean, I’d say that, you know, it’s a significant pillar, but I mean, it’s not all the inspiration for all the music.
37:34COkay, well, where else do you draw your inspiration from?
37:41DLike most artists, man, you know, living, being a human being. And I tend to think that artists, a lot of those, we’re a lot of times those people that feel a lot, right? So I draw inspiration from everything that happens, everything that I see, be it on the news, on the television, the things I experience -- love, pain, anger, sadness.
38:04CAll those things become facets of Okay, and you describe your band Black History as being a movement as well as a band. Can you elaborate on why you make this comparison of your band as being a movement?
38:19DYeah, because, I mean, of course, right, we are cats that get together playing music, right? So it’s a band, but it’s a movement because resurgence that we’re trying to bring back to quality music and quality lyrics that are really talking about things that are substantive. And not even just that, but a movement hopefully back to dancing, dancing to real live instrumentation, not just dancing to -- and there’s no knock to anybody who’s doing anything other than that. No, no, no. Other than live instrumentation, there’s a lot of electronic music and stuff like that, but we play live real instruments and we play, you know, more traditional instruments and it’s a movement back to that. So, you know, it’s a band and a movement.
39:16COkay, and I know apart from being a musician, you also said that you’re an activist as well and you actually come from a family of activist. What type of causes have you been involved in, and is there any connection between your activism and your music?
39:30DWell, yeah, so like you alluded to, you know, I do come from a family of activism, right? My father and my aunt protested in the early 1960s, you know, for the rights of vote for equality. And they -- my father spent the summer of his senior year in high school, you know, in jail because the movement at that time was to fill up the jails, you know, so that they would have to kind of set us free and to hear the demands. And then I watched my brother in the very early ’80s go downtown to the South African Embassy to protest apartheid. So those things had a big, big impression on me.
40:23DAnd so then when I was coming up also in the ’80s, you know, I was also down with the movement to protest against apartheid. And as I got up to age, you know, doing things like going to the Million Man March and marching downtown, going to march also downtown again Mm-hmm. And with the -- for the Jena 6, marched even recent -- as recent as a year or so ago for Eric Garner and Trayvon Martin and just a host of folks that have been killed by the police. here very recently. So yeah, I mean, I’m still very much an activist and it affects my music because really, really quickly I came up in a musical time that was filled with activism, right?
41:24DSo whether that be Public Enemy being the first concert I ever went to, or whether that be Arrested Development or Self-Destruct, you know, all those things had a profound impression on me, and they come out in my music even today.
41:43COkay, Shun, we’ll be right back after a word from our sponsors.
41:47AYou are listening to the Steel Pan Vibes. It’s more than music radio show. Shun McGhee, founder of Black History, a Washington, D.C.-based band, is our guest in the spotlight spotlight. He’s an activist, he’s a musician. He does not only rap, but they play music. It’s not just a band, it’s a movement. The Steel Pan Vibes radio show is brought to you by LC Warren Group, financial planners and wealth management professionals. Whether you are saving for college, tuning your Social Security benefit, or planning to enter retirement, retirement. LC Warren Group offers client-focused investment services for retirement, estate planning, portfolio management. Our office is located at 6767 North Wickham Road in Melbourne and online at lcwarrengroup.com. We serve the global community. Call us at 321- [number removed]. [number removed]. The more we know, the more we grow. Securities and advisory services offered through LPL Financial, member FINRA and SIPC.
43:17DHey, Shun.
43:23CAs you mentioned, you’re not only a musician, but you’re an activist who’s been very involved in different causes impacting the community. And the next question is, why do you think it’s important for artists to be connected to the issues that are impacting the community?
43:35DOkay, because in a lot of cases, artists have an influence or an opportunity to influence people that maybe the average person may not. So I look at people like Harry Belafonte, Lena Horne, Dick Gregory, those kinds of folks who took activism very seriously because of the platform. And I think that they handed the baton down to cats like, like I said, Public Enemy, Arrested Development, and who then handed the baton down to me. So I think that it’s a responsibility that if you see something wrong, you’re supposed to say something. And we’re seeing a lot here, be it from the administration or just the world that we live in. So I feel obligated to say something.
44:25COkay. As people of African descent, music is a very important part of our culture, not only for entertainment purposes, but also even political. You know, when when you look at African traditions, the griot was the voice of the people that spoke out and was very critical if, for example, a king or a chief was abusing their power. And that political aspect of our music survived during the Middle Passage. Music was something that we used to rebel on the slave plantations. So my next question is, do you think it’s important for Africans in the diaspora to reconnect with their African culture in terms of, like I said, that political aspect? aspect of our music.
45:08DAbsolutely. Uh, and I think that, um, I mentioned earlier, I talked about the knowledge itself, right? And, and when you’re walking around without knowing who you are, it becomes difficult to navigate where you’re going. So that’s why, you know, the main reason why it’s important, uh, you know, for Africans all over the diaspora to connect with Africa. Uh, and also because, listen, there’s no people on the face of the earth that didn’t come from somewhere, who don’t have a culture, who don’t have a specific way of doing things that explain why they do that they do it now. And we’re no different from that. But because that has been stripped from us, uh, like you talked about, through the Middle Passage and through our enslavement, a lot of people are walking around here, um, what’s the word I’m trying to use, with having lost their memory, right? And it’s making it difficult for them to know where they’re going. So, so it’s important for us to reconnect with Africa because, because that’s our home, right? And that’s our birthright as well.
46:16COkay, now earlier we played a sample of, uh, one of your songs. So for listeners who are interested in your music, uh, where can listeners go to find Well, what can they expect from the music? I mean, finding the music in terms of if they want to listen to more of your music, where can they go to find that?
46:38DSure. So some elements that they can expect from the music, like I talked about live instrumentation, right? They can also expect to be uplifted, right? to be encouraged to go further than maybe they thought they could. They can expect to dance. They can expect to be educated as well, right, because I pride myself -- I used to be a teacher with the school system, and I pride myself not only being a musician but a teacher as well. So they can expect to be educated as well. And to have a good time.
47:19COkay, uh, do you have, uh, an album out or anything that listeners can go to, uh, purchase in terms of wanting to listen to your music?
47:26DIndeed, they can go to our website www.thebandblackhistory.com and, um, they can find our single, uh, Naturally. You can also find it on, on CD Baby. Interesting that you asked me about an album because in an era when people are just making singles, we are actually engaged right now in finishing up our album. And they’ll be able to get that when it comes out. But on YouTube as well, they can find our music, you know, some of the singles that we’ve also released, you know what I’m saying, for their listening pleasure.
48:04COkay. And is there anything else that you would like our listeners to know that wasn’t mentioned before?
48:10DUm, yeah, I’d like, I’d like, I’d like them to know this, um, that Black History is an adult contemporary, uh, hip-hop band. That doesn’t mean that we don’t, we don’t respect younger artists and the younger audience, but what we’re trying to say that, hey, you know, as rap music has and grown up, so have we. And you can still be 40, 50 years old and find rap music that you enjoy, you know, without feeling like you’re rummaging through your children’s music collection.
48:49COkay, and our final question is, um, as you know, the steel pan was invented by young men of African descent in Trinidad and Tobago.
48:58DSo before you leave, what can you tell our listeners about the So, um, here’s what I can say about the steel pan that I found very, very interesting, and I’m going to connect it to hip-hop. So, you know, like a lot of things that was created in the Western Hemisphere by African people, you know, it started from the bottom and had to rise. So when the steel pan was first introduced, be it through the bamboo sticks and then the steel pan, You know, it was, it was, it was from the lower society spectrum, right? And it had to go through a process where people in the Black community, you know, that were better educated or more educated and had a longer reach accepted it.
49:47DAnd then it went outward, right? And it became something that was refined and all that kind of stuff. And I think that what I found that was cool was that hip-hop has done the same. It started, you know, from the South Bronx with a lot of -- with Kool Herc and a lot of kids that were at the lower end of the social spectrum. And then as it left the Bronx and went to Manhattan and other places, it became more accepted by by Black people who were at higher ends of the social spectrum, and now it’s accepted by everybody. So I just look at the lifespan of the steel drum, and I really can compare it to hip-hop, and I like that a lot.
50:32AOkay. Hi, Shun McGhee, how are you?
50:38DI’m doing good, how you doing?
50:39AGood, good. This is Miss B here at the Steel Pan Vibes radio show, and I have a question for you.
50:44DHow you doing?
50:45AI’m doing very good. I have a question for you. Since you’re up north in, uh, you’re in Washington, DC, correct?
50:51DRight.
50:53AOkay. Um, and you just outlined how the steel pan evolved from, you know, a simple drum back then from the ghetto, so to speak, and, you know, finally was accepted, more acceptable in the society. It also went through those changes the instrument themselves, itself, and you compare that to hip-hop. Now, wouldn’t it be a good idea for Black History to hook up with a steel band or a group of steel band musicians and put some great music together?
51:31DIt would. And the funny thing is, I know some steel -- you probably wouldn’t get People forget that, but it’s still banned here in D.C. As a matter of fact, I met a really cool young lady some months back at a place called Mr. Henry’s, which is a very, very known place here that people perform, and she has a steel drum and she came there that night to play her steel drum. So believe it or not, you know, it’s still drums, still drummers here in D.C.
52:04AI know that. So I want you to hook up with them and bring out some extraordinary music.
52:09DIndeed. Thank you for that suggestion, and I’ll begin working on that ASAP.
52:14ANo problem. That sounds good. That sounds good. Thank you so much for appearing in the Steel Pan Vibes Spotlight. We’ll be in touch with you.
52:21DThank you. Now you all have a great day.
52:24AAll right, very good, very good. Okay folks, the last word -- well, that was Shun McGhee. of the band Black History. He’s an activist, he’s in Washington, D.C., and he’s gonna hook up with a steel band or steel band musician to make some great music. Guess what? The last word comes from Nathaniel and Malik Brown. Nathaniel, are you gonna go first or Malik? Come on, let’s get it together.
52:52II’ll go first.
52:53AAll right, so you have to tell us what you know about Mighty Shadow.
52:57IMighty Shadow, aka Winston Matt Garland Bailey, was born on October 4th, 1941, and died October 23rd, 2018. He died of stroke. He died 4 days ago. Some of his albums are The Bassman, Lovelight, If I Coulda, I Woulda, I Shoulda, Sweet Dreams, Return of the Bossman, Raw Energy, Dingo Lay, High Tension, The Monster Columbus Lied, Winston Bailey and Winston Bailey Is a Shadow, etc.
53:38AVery good. And you, Nathaniel?
53:40FWinston McGarland Bailey was born in Belmont, which is a suburb in Port of Spain, Trinidad. He later grew up in Lescoy talks in Tobago with his grandparents. He chose the name Shadow after coming across some workers digging up a road while he was working. One of the workmen was in a hole below the road surface, and others were calling him Shadow, and Bailey said, I felt like they were calling me. Ever since then, in his early years, he would perform Wearing all black with his large hat covering his face. He died not too long ago at Mount Hope Hospital due to stroke.
54:26AOkay, thank you guys. Well, taking us home is one incredible musician, Mighty Shadow, with one of his signature compositions from his extraordinary legacy, commonly called Ding-a-Ling. But music is the correct title. So folks, until next time, let your brilliance shine. Stay strong, stay focused, be encouraged. Have a safe, enjoyable weekend. May God bless you all.
54:58DBye.
55:41HMusic sweet, music sweet. The one who invented music, it’s got to be Terry Pick. Got to be the one who created the sun and the trees. Music fills the world with happiness, plenty sweetness and togetherness. Music have no friends or enemies, everybody. Single leg, single leg, single leg, single leg. If you’re close, tear up, or you’re super tough, you could still jump up when music plays. Old lady, young baby, everybody put single leg, single leg.
57:23DMelodies.
57:47HHarmony. Music in the atmosphere, sweet music is everywhere. Even in the park, in the dark, a blind man can find a melody. Music builds The world with happiness, plenty sweetness and togetherness. Music has no friends or any needs. Everybody singole, singole, singole, singole, singole. If you’re close, tear up. For your super top, you could still jump up when music plays. Old lady, young baby, everybody go singole, singole, singole, singole, singole. Yeah, yeah, yeah, yeah, yeah. No, no, no, no, no, no.
