Pan Inventor Claims
Invention Stolen From Him
British-based panist Dudley Dickson was quite
emphatic in stating that he was outsmarted with
his original creation of the Collapsible Pan
Stand which he says invented in the United Kingdom in
1981. This is the said stand which is now being widely used
and adopted by orchestras such as Phase II Pan Groove in Port of
Spain, Trinidad – where incidentally Dudley
himself is currently the band's
resident tuner for the 2K8 carnival
season.
Dudley believes that many people in the Pan
Diaspora are aware that Trinidad and Tobago is
the home of pan, though not consciously so.
He laments, nonetheless, that credit for his
invention of the 'Collapsible Pan Stand' was
given to San Fernando’s son of the soil,
Winston Graham, without adequate research being
done. Today, however, it is hoped that the
record has been set straight.
Dudley was addressing an interactive
international audience on WACK 90.1 FM Culture
Krazy Radio in San Fernando, Trinidad on Sunday
23rd December, 2007. The brand new show is
featured each Sunday on PAN DIASPORA within “Pan
in You Puefen” which is itself aired from 3:00 PM to
6:00 PM. Show host is D.J. Heshimu with
co-host Hollis Clifton, who conceptualized Pan
Diaspora.
At age 15, in 1964, the pint-sized Grenadian
joined his parents in Birmingham where his
romance with the steelpan began when he and his
brother were invited to join Birmingham All
Stars under the stewardship of Roy Jacobs.
A few years later he was on the stage side of Tropicans Harmony Steelband which was then led
by Victor Phillips. Later he enlisted with
Melody Makers under the captaincy of Biggs
Yearwood.
After honing his skills in the Birmingham
community, fate would have it that Master
Dickson became a facilitator at the Coventry
Training Workshop (a government-run institution)
teaching pan fabricating – sinking grooving,
cutting and burning with Victor Phillips as the
Head Supervisor.
Some two years later he was given the
opportunity to train youngsters at the Carnival
Industrial Project in London. This gave him the
opportunity to complete his invention of the
Collapsible Folding Stand (in 1982) which he
started in Coventry in 1981.
It was in 1984 that Dudley joined the Ebony
Steelband as the resident tuner. That
marriage has since worked wonders for both tuner
and band. To date Ebony has become the
most successful steel orchestra in Europe.
As an inventor Dudley has also been credited
with the creation of the Pyramid Pan, of which
there are merely two in the world, both of which
were used by Panch Steelband of Switzerland in
the inaugural World Steelband Music held in
Panland in 2000.
He also invented the Sonia Sonic Bass Pan – so
named in tribute to a female panist of the Ebony
Steelband.
He is also credited with having modified the
Diagonal Tuning Tenor Pan.
Mr. Dickson is known to have done extensive
research on other materials in an effort to find
new voicing for pan. This is inclusive of the
different grades of mild steel, stainless steel
and aluminum. He now has his eyes set on
research in copper and brass.
Dudley is well schooled in electronics and
fabricating. He has also made his mark as
a limbo dancer cum music composer. His latest
composition is a Christmas ditty in
collaboration with Tobago Crusoe who penned the
lyrics as well as sang it with Alberto
Many callers congratulated WACK Radio for
hosting such an informative programme to which
the world could contribute. Others commended the
day’s guest, Dudley, for his ongoing initiative
in steelpan innovations.
by
Hollis Clifton
Pan Diaspora Visionary
contact
hollisclifton@yahoo.com