"Smooth" at Panorama 2001 At the Zanzibar Restaurant, Washington, DC (Sept. 2001)

LEON   EDWARDS DATE OF BIRTH: Early 1950s PLACE OF BIRTH: Port-of-Spain, Trinidad EDUCATION: Queen's Royal College (1963-70) STEELBANDS: Trinidad All Stars (1968-2002) Smooth Pan Sounds, Washington, DC, USA (1999-2002) SPECIALTIES: Player (Tenor, Double-Second) Arranger CAREER:                                       Edwards joined the Trinidad All Stars steelband in 1968 and began arranging in 1975; he later toured Africa with the band in 1977. His musical arrangements took All Stars to Panorama victories in 1980, 1981, 1986, and 2002. In 1988, he migrated to the Washington, DC, area in the USA and, in 1989, began teaching technical skills to the Metroplitan Steel Symphony sponsored by the Seventh Day Adventist Church. While in the USA, he participated in the formation of two youth steelbands under the auspices of the Cultural Academy for Excellence: Positive Vibrations and his church band. In 1999, he began making solo performances in the Washington, DC, area. The following is a summary of the Trinidad All Stars record in the Panorama competition with musical arrangements by Edwards: 1976 - "Pan in Harmony" (Lord Kitchener), Finals 1977 - "Republic Dance" (Lord Kitchener), Semi-Finals 1978 - "The Dog" (Lord Kitchener) 1980 - "Woman on the Bass" (Scrunter), 1st 1981 - "Unknown Band" (Blue Boy), 1st 1982 - "Heat" (Lord Kitchener), 2nd 1983 - "Rebecca" (Blue Boy), 3rd 1984 - "Doh Back Back" Mighty Sparrow), 2nd 1985 - "Suck Me Soucouyant" (Crazy), 3rd 1986 - "The Hammer" (David Rudder), 1st 1987 - "Curry Tabanca" (Mighty Trini), Finals 1988 - "Pan in Yuh Ruckungkutungkung" (Mighty Duke) 1998 - "Me and My Lady" (Car Wash), 3rd 1999 - "Having A Ball" (Disciple), Finals 2000 - "Jump for Joy" (Superblue), Finals 2001 - "Rain Melody" (Preacher), 2nd 2002 - "Fire Storm" (The Original De Fosto Himself), 1st 2003 - "Pandora" (The Original De Fosto Himself), 2nd 2004 - "Ah Pay Meh Dues" (The Original De Fosto Himself), 2nd (Tied) 2006 - "Soca Warriors" (The Original De Fosto Himself), 2nd 2007 - "Pan Lamentation" (The Original De Fosto Himself), 1st 2008 - "Thunder Coming" (The Original De Fosto Himself), 2nd Compiled by Ronald C. Emrit