Steelband in the 1990s

During the 1990s, three steelbands received the Trinidad & Tobago Chaconia Medal Gold for their cultural contributions: Desperadoes (1992); Renegades (1992); and Invaders (1996). Internationally, the contributions of Elliott Mannette, the accomplished pan tuner, were recognized in 1992 when he became an Artist in Residence at West Virginia University, Morgantown, West Virginia, USA, where he continued to teach music students how to play and tune pans through the turn of the century. In 1999, Mannette received an US Endowment of the Arts Award from President Bill Clinton for his work in the furtherance of indigenous culture. Other panmen who made significant contributions to the furtherance of steelband music in this decade were arrangers Clive Bradley, Jit Samaroo, Robert Greenidge, Pelham Goddard, and Desmond Waithe, and ambassadors Earl Brooks, Othello Molineaux, Ken Philmore, Lennox Sharpe, and Rudy Smith.

Renegades dominated Panorama in this decade with five wins. The only other steelband to win more than once was Desperadoes with three wins. Three Panorama winners played compositions by non-calypsonians as the challenge to calypsoes increased during this decade. In addition to the four winning steelbands listed below, the only other steelbands that finished among the top three during the ten years of Panorama competition in this decade were: Fonclaire; Phase II Pan Groove; and Trinidad All Stars.

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