BOYS   TOWN


60th Anniversary celebration of Steelband Music Festival Victory - December 2012
(From Left: Lewis Gorrin, George Kalicharan, Eugene Williams, Trevor Alexander, Kelvin Pierrepoint, and Clarence Eve)
On March 11, 1952, Boys Town Steelband of Point Cumana won the first Steelband Music Festival staged at the Globe Cinema in Port-of-Spain, playing the selection "You Are My Heart's Delight" as well as the test piece "Under The Marabella Bridge." That year, after strong resistance from the Trinidad Music Association, steelbands were allowed to compete at the biennial Music Festival for the Hope-Ross Challenge Cup. The association had opposed attempts by the steelbands to play classical music. However, for want of an adequate concert venue, the Festival was conducted in cinemas such as the Roxy and Globe in Port of Spain. Past members of the defunct Boys Town Steel Orchestra included Trevor Alexander, Clyde Bonterre, Clarence Eve, Gerald Gorrin, George "Yoyo" Kallicharan, Gaston Nunes, Sonny Ottley, Kenneth Palmer, Kelvin Pierrepoint, and Eugene Williams. Boys Town finished among the top three steelbands in the following significant competition:

YEAR EVENT RESULT SELECTION ARRANGER
1952 Steelband Music Festival 1st You Are My Heart's Delight (....) .....
Compiled by Ronald C. Emrit