| Led by Eugene Peters, Starlift was formed in 1956 in Woodbrook, Port-of-Spain, by a group of panmen from the Nightingale, Saigon, and Invaders steelbands. Its first panyard was located at 9 Brabant Street and its tuner was Michael "Natzi" Snyder. Among its first members were ex-Invaders panmen Albert "Philo" James, Carlton "My Fan" Drayton, "Vats" Duncan, and Andrew "Bambi" Contant. The band took to the road for the first time in 1957 under the leadership of James who was also its musical arranger. From 1957 to 1960, the band was located on Brabant Street. After a hiatus in 1961, the band resumed functioning in 1962 at the intersection of Damian and Hunter Streets. In 1963, it was relocated to Hunter Street, between Pole-Carew and Damian Streets, where arranger Ray Holman joined the band after departing the Invaders Steelband the same year. Holman's musical arrangements won the band two Panorama victories in 1969 and 1971; a third Panorama title was achieved in 1978 with Herschel Puckerin as arranger. Beginning in 1964, the band has had five sponsors: Angostura Limited (1964-1969); Canadian Imperial Bank of Commerce (1969-1977); Trinidad Tesoro (1977-1983); Trintopec (1983-1992); and PCS Nitrogen Trinidad Limited (1997-2006). In 1968, the band held practice next to the Woodbrook Youth Center. In 1970, it functioned at the corner of Warren and Gallus Streets, and later moved to Alfredo Street, between Ariapita Avenue and Wrightson Road. In the 1980s, it was relocated to Starlift Drive, behind the old Roxy Theatre. On June 5, 2004, the band formally opened its headquarters at the House of Music on Mucurapo Road. Following its musical success, Starlift has appeared in Canada, Costa Rica, USA, and Venezuela. In addition to its music, Starlift had two Carnival masquerade presentations that finished in the top five in the Large Band-of-the-Year competition: "Undersea Kingdom" (1957, 5th); and "Nursery Rhymes" (1958, 4th). In 2003, Starlift remained one of only two steelbands to ever accomplish this feat. Other notable presentations by the band were "Splendour Among the Himalayas" (1965), "Ceremony of the Redmen," "Of Feasts and Festivals," and "Feather Fantasy." Starlift finished among the top three steelbands in the following significant competition: |
