Soca’s Steelpan Origins #3: Are We Rewriting Panorama History?

First Soca Played for Panorama #3

Recently, we spotlighted “I’m Not Drunk” by KMC as the first Soca song performed by a steelband at Trinidad’s Panorama competition. But thanks to the vibrant discussions on the "Steelpan Trivia & More" Facebook group, that claim is now under review.

Kenrick McDavid suggested that Carib Tokyo played “Soca Jean” by Lord Kitchener—arranged by Carl Henderson & Keith McBurney—in 1991. While we continue to investigate this claim, another contender has emerged.

David Goddard pointed us to “Jump and Mash Up D Party,” sung by Anselm Douglas and performed by TCL Skiffle Bunch in the 1995 Panorama Finals, arranged by the legendary Ken “Professor” Philmore. We have the receipts for this claim!

So for now, 1995 stands as the earliest confirmed Soca entry into Panorama—unless we can verify Soca Jean for 1991.

Something intriguing came to light during this search. Kenny Phillips, who initially provided us with "I'm Not Drunk" by KMC, totally forgot about "Jump and Mash Up D Party," a song that he arranged! This indicates that even music producers need to improve their management of music catalogs.  

This isn’t just trivia—it’s a celebration of Soca’s journey into the steelpan arena. If you have any receipts, memories, or old cassette tapes, please feel free to share them with us. The culture deserves clarity.

Let us spread awareness of the Caribbean diaspora's culture.

Our goal is to promote Caribbean culture, musicians, and music producers. We are able to honor and promote the rich sounds and tales of the Caribbean thanks to your support. Together, we can ensure that this rich cultural legacy continues to reach a wider audience and foster creativity and connections. While you should always buy music for sale, you should avoid sharing promotional music because it denies songwriters, producers, and artists important revenue.  Please be aware that all of our posts are available online via social media platforms like Facebook, YouTube, Instagram, Spotify, and SoundCloud. We recommend exploring your favorite content on FeedSpot/RSS Feed, Threads, Bluesky, and Twitter/X, including email subscriptions. Thank you in advance.

Production Notes/Music Credits:

Song Title: Jump and Mash Up D Party

Artist/Performed by: Anselm Douglas 

Arranged by: Kenny Phillips 

Year 1995

Steelband: TCL Skiffle Bunch 

Arranged by: Ken "Professor" Philmore

Origin: Trinidad, Republic of Trinidad & Tobago

Genre: Soca 🎶

Sokah2Soca—Where Rhythm Lives and Calypso, Steelband Music and Soca Thrive!

🎧 Listen. Share. Amplify. Our artists embody culture not only during Carnival but on a daily basis.

We present the music here for your listening pleasure and promotional purposes only, adhering to the "Fair Use" Musical Content Copyright Disclaimer under Section 107 of the Copyright Act 1976. Sokah2Soca/Soca Music Blog © 1990 by Santiwah is licensed under CC BY-SA 4.0. To view a copy of this license, visit https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-SA/4.0/.

♫Please click the small triangle button in the music player below to listen now.

TCL Skiffle Bunch - Jump and Mash Up D Party 

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Soca’s Steelpan Origins #2: Siparia Deltones Bring ‘I’m Not Drunk’ to Panorama's Frontline

First Soca Played for Panorama #2

When I considered making this post, I had no clue about the song, band, arranger, or year it took place. What did I do? I called Kenny, aka KP (Kenny Phillips of KMP Music), and he gave me "I'm Not Drunk," by KMC, arranged by Zanda. To be honest, Kenny thinks this is the right song, band, and arranger. Is that really the case? Soca started around 1973; is it possible that it took 36 years before the first Soca song was played at Panorama? Should you have a different perspective, please refer to the following paragraph. 

CHALLENGE US:

What Was the First Soca Tune Ever Played in Panorama? Before we dive into this piece, we’re inviting you to question the history and challenge our proposal. Like you, we want to get the information right. Indeed, this presentation marks the start of an exciting journey. We are fishing for relevant information; let's make history together!

Do YOU know what the first Soca song ever played by a steelband in Panorama was? We’re making our case for “I’m Not Drunk” by KMC, arranged by Carlton “Zanda” Alexander for Siparia Deltones in 2009. But Sokah2Soca is built on conversation, not decree—so if you believe another tune came first, drop the title, name the band, and let’s reason. The panyard isn’t just for practice—it’s for passion and provocation, too. 

When Soca exploded onto Trinidad’s music scene in 1973, thanks to the genius of Lord Shorty, it was a celebration of fusion—Calypso’s heart with East Indian rhythm, designed to make waistlines move and speakers tremble. Yet, for decades, Panorama remained the domain of Calypso alone. Soca was viewed as too raw, too road-ready, and too rebellious to fit the orchestral standards of steelpan music.

That myth unraveled in 2009, when Siparia Deltones Steel Orchestra shook the competition with a bold choice: “I’m Not Drunk” by Ken Marlon Charles (KMC). Their arranger? Carlton "Zanda" Alexander, a jazz-schooled maestro, orchestrated a cheeky party anthem into a musically rich Panorama piece, brimming with key shifts, rhythmic interplay, and harmonic twists.

It was not just steelpan meeting Soca—it was steelpan respecting it. The judges gave Deltones 7th place with 450.5 points, but the cultural impact was louder than any score sheet.

For the first time, Soca wasn’t just sampled or hinted at—it was fully embraced. “I’m Not Drunk” became the genre’s formal entry into Panorama history. Now what do you think about that? That was your historical moment; make sure to note it for future discussions about Soca and Steelband!

So, loyal fans of Soca, what do you think? Was “I’m Not Drunk” really the first, or does your musical memory offer another contender? Hit us with your picks, your passion, and your proof—let’s keep the debate as lively as the Savannah stage itself.

Send in your information to sokah2soca@gmail.com:

Song: Name of Song

Band: Name of Steelband

Arranger: Arranged by

Year: What Year?

Addendum 07/24/2025:

We have a new song/band/post coming for a Soca song played by Skiffle in 1995. The song, played by Skiffle, is from an earlier date than the song on this post. 

Let us spread awareness of the Caribbean diaspora's culture.

Our goal is to promote Caribbean culture, musicians, and music producers. We are able to honor and promote the rich sounds and tales of the Caribbean thanks to your support. Together, we can ensure that this rich cultural legacy continues to reach a wider audience and foster creativity and connections. While you should always buy music for sale, you should avoid sharing promotional music because it denies songwriters, producers, and artists important revenue.  Please be aware that all of our posts are available online via social media platforms like Facebook, YouTube, Instagram, Spotify, and SoundCloud. We recommend exploring your favorite content on FeedSpot/RSS Feed, Threads, Bluesky, and Twitter/X, including email subscriptions. Thank you in advance.

Production Notes/Music Credits:

Song Title: I'm Not Drunk

Singer/Performed by: KMC (Ken Marlon Charles)

Steelband: Siparia Deltones

Arranger: Clive 'Zander' Alexander

Origin: Trinidad, Republic of Trinidad & Tobago

Genre: Soca/Steelband 🎶

Sokah2Soca—Where Rhythm Lives and Calypso, Steelband Music and Soca Thrive!

🎧 Listen. Share. Amplify. Our artists embody culture not only during Carnival but on a daily basis.

We present the music here for your listening pleasure and promotional purposes only, adhering to the "Fair Use" Musical Content Copyright Disclaimer under Section 107 of the Copyright Act 1976. Sokah2Soca/Soca Music Blog © 1990 by Santiwah is licensed under CC BY-SA 4.0. To view a copy of this license, visit https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-SA/4.0/.

♫Please click the small triangle button in the music player below to listen now.

Top: I'm Not Drunk by KMC Bottom: I'm Not Drunk by Siparia Deltones

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Soca’s Steelpan Origins #1: First Echo on the Panorama Stage - Soca on the Steelpan

First Soca Played for Panorama #1

Calling All Soca and Steelband Historians—Let’s Set the Record Straight! Help Us Find Panorama’s Original Soca Tune. We are on a mission to solve this mystery, but first we must tell you that we have already written a post about the first song we think was played for the Panorama competition. After a discussion with my Kulture Krazy Encyclopedia, Mr. Kenny Phillips, we have a song, a steel band, and an arranger that we believe were the first to play Soca for Panorama. We may be wrong, but we will post it next. If we get something wrong and you help clarify the facts, everyone benefits.

We have framed some questions below. Please send your information to sokah2soca@gmail.com or panyardvibes@gmail.com.

• The name of the song?
• What is the name of the steelband that played it?
• Who produced the song/Riddim?
• The arranger for the Steelband
• The year it was performed?

This is more than trivia—it’s a chance to honor pioneers who fused steel and Soca to forever shift Carnival’s soundscape. Whether you lived it, studied it, or just love a good musical mystery… drop your knowledge in the comments or tag someone who might know

Let's acknowledge and honor the origins of our rhythm! We will wait to see if your responses pan out with our thinking. Having said that, we promise to share our post with our fans and if we get it wrong, we won't pretend otherwise. 

Now, since the song, band, and arranger are all unknown, it is interesting to add some spice to the discussion. You need some music, so we have aptly selected "Unknown Band" by the artist who was then known as "Blue Boy" and is now known as "Super Blue." No, we are not suggesting that this song is the first Soca played by a steelband for Panorama. This post is just a teaser!

Let us spread awareness of the Caribbean diaspora's culture.

Our goal is to promote Caribbean culture, musicians, and music producers. We are able to honor and promote the rich sounds and tales of the Caribbean thanks to your support. Together, we can ensure that this rich cultural legacy continues to reach a wider audience and foster creativity and connections. While you should always buy music for sale, you should avoid sharing promotional music because it denies songwriters, producers, and artists important revenue.  Please be aware that all of our posts are available online via social media platforms like Facebook, YouTube, Instagram, Spotify, and SoundCloud. We recommend exploring your favorite content on FeedSpot/RSS Feed, Threads, Bluesky, and Twitter/X, including email subscriptions. Thank you in advance.

Production Notes/Music Credits:

Title: Soca Soca played for Panorama

Origin: Trinidad, Republic of Trinidad & Tobago

Genre: Soca/Steelband 🎶

Sokah2Soca—Where Rhythm Lives and Calypso, Steelband Music and Soca Thrive!

🎧 Listen. Share. Amplify. Our artists embody culture not only during Carnival but on a daily basis.

We present the music here for your listening pleasure and promotional purposes only, adhering to the "Fair Use" Musical Content Copyright Disclaimer under Section 107 of the Copyright Act 1976. Sokah2Soca/Soca Music Blog © 1990 by Santiwah is licensed under CC BY-SA 4.0. To view a copy of this license, visit https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-SA/4.0/.

♫Please click the small triangle button in the music player below to listen now.

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Steelpan on the Parkway Bringing Pure Panyard Vibes to Borough Day 2026 🇹🇹

Trinidad’s culture is alive, breathing, and constantly moving, and this share is another reminder of how deeply it lives in the everyday spaces of the people. Thanks to my friend Izah Trini Lenny, this livestream from vlogger I Am Living My Life reaches Panyard Vibes with all the authenticity and warmth of home. This is Pan on the Parkway! 

Republic Bank hosts/sponsors Pan on the Parkway! So as not to confuse anyone, the event is not on "The Parkway in Brooklyn" but "De Parkway" in Point Fortin, Trinidad. Come on... I had to say it!

As part of the Point Fortin Borough Day 2026 celebrations, it captures the kind of grassroots cultural richness that, if you follow her long enough, will show you more of Trinidad than even our national Carnival. That’s not an exaggeration — her broadcasts take you straight into the heart of the island. So settle in, enjoy the evening, and help carry our culture across the world.

Pan on the Parkway came alive through the livestream, blending steelpan music, community, and Borough pride into one seamless celebration. With the link shared by 'Izah Trini Lenny' for 'I am living my life,' the energy of the Mahaica Sports Complex felt close even from afar. 

Featuring a strong lineup of steelbands:

• Holy Faith Convent Penal Steel Orchestra
• LA47 Steel Orchestra
• Southern Stars Steel Orchestra
• Pan Elders Steel Orchestra
• Skiffle Bunch Steel Orchestra
• Republic Bank Exodus Steelband
• And more!

From sweet melodic runs to full‑force Parkway power, the music reminded viewers why steelpan remains the heartbeat of Trinidad & Tobago’s identity. Families, pan lovers, and longtime supporters filled the venue from 5 PM to 11 PM, creating the warmth and pride that define Point Fortin. Through the livestream, the diaspora stayed connected to home, experiencing the rhythm, joy, and cultural unity that make Borough Day unforgettable.

Production Notes/Music Credits:

Event: Pan on the Parkway - Steelpan Vibes All Night - Point Fortin Borough Day 2026

Live YouTube broadcast via "I am living my life."

Origin: Trinidad, Republic of Trinidad & Tobago.

Genre: Steelband Music 🎶

Empowering Caribbean Creatives

🎧 Share. Amplify. This is your Panyard Lime, where rhythm lives. Steelbands and calypsos provide the steelband pulse year-round, not just during Carnival. 🌴✨ Help elevate Caribbean music and culture—be a cultural ambassador and spread the word. 👉 Find us on Facebook and YouTube.

We present the music here for your listening pleasure and promotional purposes only, adhering to the "Fair Use" Musical Content Copyright Disclaimer under Section 107 of the Copyright Act of 1976. Kaiso Dial/Calypso Music Blog © 1990 by Santiwah is licensed under CC BY-SA 4.0. To view a copy of this license, visit https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-sa/4.0/.

♫Please press the music player button below to listen now (small triangle in the Music player/TV Frame).

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Steelpan Unscripted: UTT’s Experimental Panorama Live — more artistic and reflective.

Tonight we join “I Am Living My Life” to witness what can only be described as an experimental panorama. They call it “Panorama” simply because a handful of bands—mostly unknown outside their districts—are competing for a feature prize.

This is a College Steelpan event— not a national competition. So be kind with your comments. Just enjoy the evening of local talent on display. 

To be clear, this is UTT Panorama 2026 Live, an event sponsored by the University of Trinidad and Tobago (UTT) for a select group of steelbands. But let’s be honest — we don’t mind the details. We tune in for this live coverage solely for the sake of more steelpan music.

From "I am living my life" YouTube post:

Experience the energy, the music, and the competition as these talented university steel orchestras bring their best to the stage.

Whether you’re a steelpan lover, a supporter, or just curious about the next generation of talent, this event is one you don’t want to miss.

Production Notes/Music Credits:

Event: UTT Panorama 2026 Live

Origin: Trinidad, Republic of Trinidad & Tobago.

Genre: Steelband Music 🎶

The Bands:

Psycho Tonz

Pentatonic

Heavy Hitters

Fuzion

Drum roll for the winning band... Psycho Tonz!

Empowering Caribbean Creatives

🎧 Share. Amplify. This is your Panyard Lime, where rhythm lives. Steelbands and calypsos provide the steelband pulse year-round, not just during Carnival. 🌴✨ Help elevate Caribbean music and culture—be a cultural ambassador and spread the word. 👉 Find us on Facebook and YouTube.

We present the music here for your listening pleasure and promotional purposes only, adhering to the "Fair Use" Musical Content Copyright Disclaimer under Section 107 of the Copyright Act of 1976. Kaiso Dial/Calypso Music Blog © 1990 by Santiwah is licensed under CC BY-SA 4.0. To view a copy of this license, visit https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-sa/4.0/.

♫Please press the music player button below to listen now (small triangle in the Music player/TV Frame).

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bp Renegades Electrifying Performance at Carnival Lagniappe 2025

Image via YouTube video

This post was taken from Sokah2Soca and redone for Panyard Vibes. The expanded post celebrates the talent and movement that is Renegades Steel Orchestra.

The 2025 large conventional band season closed with a reminder of why steelband culture remains one of the most emotionally charged and artistically rich traditions in Trinidad and Tobago. The margin between first and second place was a mere three points—close enough to spark debate, but wide enough to affirm the excellence on display. What unfolded at Carnival Lagniappe, however, was something different from the spectacle of Panorama finals. Gone were the theatrics, the dramatic stage entrances, and the showmanship designed to dazzle. Instead, there was something more authentic: music that stood alone, unadorned and unfiltered, speaking directly to the hearts of those gathered at the Queen's Park Savannah.

Renegades, the 2025 runner‑up and co‑champion from the previous year, approached the stage with the confidence of a band that knows its worth. Their performance was not a rebuttal delivered in anger but a statement delivered in sound—measured, elegant, and unmistakably theirs. While some in the South may have argued that Skiffle deserved the second‑place finish, Renegades used the Lagniappe stage to reaffirm their position with grace and authority. Under the steady guidance of arranger Duvone Stewart, they reminded the audience why their name carries such weight in the steelband world. Every phrase was shaped with intention, every dynamic shift executed with care, and every moment infused with the unmistakable sweetness that has become their signature.

Carnival Lagniappe itself lived up to its promise. As a gathering of champions and top contenders, it offered a final opportunity to savor the season’s best music without the tension of competition. Bands played for the joy of it, and the audience—both in Savannah and online—responded with the kind of appreciation that only comes when music is allowed to breathe. It was a night that celebrated not just winners but the entire ecosystem of artistry that makes Panorama what it is.

For Renegades’ supporters, the evening was especially satisfying. Stewart’s arrangements have long been admired for their emotional clarity and technical brilliance, and hearing the band deliver his work outside the pressure cooker of finals allowed fans to appreciate the nuances even more deeply. The competition may have ended weeks earlier, but the music still carried the glow of triumph. When the final notes faded and the racks were wheeled away, there was a collective sense that something meaningful had been shared—something that transcended rankings and rivalries.

In the end, Carnival Lagniappe 2025 succeeded because it honored the essence of steelband culture: community, craftsmanship, and the unbreakable bond between players and listeners. Renegades’ presence was essential to that success. As co-champions from the previous year (2024) and one of the country's most beloved bands, they brought musical excellence and emotional continuity to the event. Their performance helped shape the night into an unforgettable celebration of Carnival’s finest.

One truth remains clear: Renegades continue to stand as a pillar of the art form. Their contribution to Carnival Lagniappe was not just another appearance—it was a reminder of why steelband music endures, evolves, and remains motivating.

Let us spread awareness of the Caribbean diaspora's culture.

🎧Listen. Share. Amplify. Our artists embody culture not only during Carnival but also on a daily basis. Sokah2Soca—Where Rhythm Lives and Calypso, Steelband Music, and Soca are thriving!. You can find all of our posts online on social media platforms like Facebook, YouTube, Instagram, Spotify, and SoundCloud. We recommend that you explore your favorite content on FeedSpot/RSS Feed, Threads, Bluesky, and Twitter/X, including email subscriptions. Thank you in advance.

Production Notes/Music Credits:

Event: Carnival Lagniappe 2025

Achievement: Second Place Large Conventional Steelbands Panorama Competition

Steelband: BP Renegades

Song: Bet Meh (2025)

Arranged by: Duvone Stewart

Singer: Machel Montano 

Music arranged by: De Red Boyz

Album/Riddim: Tilden Hall Riddim

Origin: Trinidad, Republic of Trinidad & Tobago

Genre: Steelband Music

Video Courtesy of WACK Visual Radio 90.1FM 

We present the music here for your listening pleasure and promotional purposes only, adhering to the "Fair Use" Musical Content Copyright Disclaimer under Section 107 of the Copyright Act 1976. Sokah2Soca/Soca Music Blog © 1990 by Santiwah is licensed under CC BY-SA 4.0. To view a copy of this license, visit https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-SA/4.0/.

♫ Please click the music player button below to listen now (a small triangle in the music player/TV frame).

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