The History of the Steel Drums
Steel drums developed on Trinidad and Tobago when the islanders started hitting steel containers to create rhythmic music. What started as simple folk music has evolved into a science and a respected musical instrument. Even before the steel drums, though, the islanders were making music, and the instrument has its root in the 16th century.
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Origins
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Slaves brought to Trinidad and Tobago in the 16th century communicated through "talking drums." During French Mardi Gras celebrations, the slaves would drum along. In 1883, the British government banned the drums, afraid the people would revolt. Instead, they invented the tamboo-bamboo, bamboo sticks cut for striking together or hammering against the ground. Tamboo-bamboo bands formed.
The bands started fighting, gang-fashion, sharpening their instruments into weapons. In 1934, the British banned the tamboo-bamboo, too.
Metal
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Later, the bands started banging on tin pans and formed "pan bands" or "iron bands." They discovered that after beating out a convex curve, drum surfaces could change pitch.
In 1935, a riot broke out at the Carnival. To get his team safely home, Alexander Ford of Alexander's Rag-Time Band stole a garbage can and used it as a signal drum. Others followed suit and before long, no trash can was safe. -
Concave Drums
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In 1937, Ellie Mannette joined Alexander's Rag-Time Band. Drum-maker Winston "Spree" Simon had already shaped four or five concave notes into a drum's surface, but Ellie discovered that a concave shape worked better. His earliest steel drums were nicknamed "Baby's Bath Time."
Mannette quickly became a master drum-maker.
Steel Drums
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During World War II, Mannette created the Barracuda, a 35-gallon barrel with nine notes. A rival band, Tokyo, stole it during V-E day celebrations on May 6, 1945.
Undaunted, in 1946, Mannette unveiled the first 55-gallon drum with 14 notes, playing Beethoven's "Für Elise" and Brahms' "Lullaby" to much acclaim. He started working on accompaniment instruments. Meanwhile, drum-maker Neville Jules came up with a four-note single bass drum.
TASPO
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In the 1950s, the British sent Lt. Griffith, a police brass band conductor, to train players for a 1951 London concert. They created TASPO, the Trinidad All-Star Percussion Orchestra.
The show went well, and despite being offered a music scholarship, Mannette stayed home to create more drums. Tony Williams, Bertie Marshall and Rudolph Charles also introduced new drums.
Steel drums slowly entered popular culture. Russell Henderson and Sterling Betancourt used them in jazz and they were featured in The Hollies' 1967 hit, "Carrie Anne."
1970s
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In 1971, Mannette met New York music teacher James Leyden who invited him to train at his school. In the mid-1970s, Leyden's band performed at the MENC NY State Convention, slowly bringing steel drums into the mainstream. Mannette began working with college programs.
Today
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Dennis Martin fell in love with steel drums in 1981. He signed up for the world's first steel drum construction workshop, run by Mannette through Portland State University. Martin and Mannette became friends, and in time Martin became an accomplished pannist and builder in his own right.
Throughout the 1980s and 1990s, Martin introduced innovations such as patterns for creating notes, steel drum stands and turntables.
Today, the steel drum continues to gain popularity as a pop and classical instrument and shows no signs of slowing down.
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