Movies

Esso Trinidad Tripoli Steel Band

This video features the 30-minute 1971 self-titled documentary, a film by Van Dyke Parks and Bud Smith. The film follows the Grammy Award-nominated Esso Trinidad Steel Drum Band from Carnival Trinidad through their historic 1971 American tour. Featuring live performances, interviews, and a travelogue from the sunny islands to the snowy American winters scape, follow a tour bus loaded with 23 panmen and 23 steel drums as they travel the roads of the USA.

“The greatest group I’ve ever had the privilege to produce.” The world-renowned Van Dyke Parks calls Tripoli Steel Band his favorite band.

Wikipedia -- Van Dyke Parks (born January 3, 1943) is an American composer, arranger, record producer, instrumentalist, singer-songwriter, author, and actor. He is known for his collaborations with the musician Brian Wilson and for his contributions as lyricist for the Beach Boys' Smile project. Besides numerous collaborations with the Beach Boys, he has worked with such performers as Phil Ochs, Donovan, Haruomi Hosono, the Byrds, Tim Buckley, Arlo Guthrie, Little Feat, Loudon Wainwright III, Rufus Wainwright, U2, Harry Nilsson, Randy Newman, Ry Cooder, Joanna Newsom, Grizzly Bear, Inara George, Silverchair, Kimbra, and Ringo Starr.

In addition to producing records by other artists, Parks has released several studio albums of his own recordings: Song Cycle, Discover America, Clang of the Yankee Reaper, Jump!, Tokyo Rose, Orange Crate Art, Songs Cycled, and one live album, Moonlighting: Live at the Ash Grove. He has also established himself in motion pictures and over the years has directed, arranged, produced, and composed soundtracks for a great number of theatrical films and television shows. On occasion, he has taken small acting roles.