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Trinidad & Tobago Panorama 2015 - HOME

‘Dr. Samaroo’

sung by Anslem Douglas
composed by Mark Loquan
lyrics by Gregory “GB” Ballantyne

produced by Junior “IBO” Joseph

   

 

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“Dr. Samaroo”
Anslem Douglas

Provided with the expressed permission of the composer(s)

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LYRICS

Verse 1

Cuatro class down by “Slim,”
And John Ralph he went
After he watch, his Mum sing and play dholak in tent
Then Landig White set him alight
And made him study Music Theory
While parang ignite
Maliphant brought him music to practice with
Then formed his siblings to Samaroo Kids
Then Nigel Seales and Birch Kelman
Took him to Renegades Band
With Kitchener songs, he had we spellbound,
A great legend began

Chorus

Dr. Samaroo, this one is for you
De sound tracks of our lives, you played quite a few
Pan fraternity says “Thank you”!!
Your innovations, cello and tenor runs
Your counter-melodic fills, and your change rhythms
From Panorama to Jean Mitchell Jarre
Pan world, calls you Master,
And a genius pan arranger

Verse 2

Tunes like ‘Miss Supporter,” “For de Love of Pan”
“Pan Man Vibrations,” written for steel bands
“A day in Surrey,” “La Trinity”
“Song of Lopinot,” Angel Harps, Pan Glow, Cordettes, Tornadoes
Thankfully, son Amrit, music in his veins
Composed “Band from Space,”
Last song Jit arranged
Dis Humming Bird and Chaconia,
U.W.I. doctor of Pan
Straight from Monte Grand, and Camboulay Band,
Now a great Pan Legend

Chorus
_________________

Bridge

(improvise)
(Jit boy, we really love you
We playing dis one for Jit Samaroo)
(Jit boy, we really love you
We playing dis one for Jit Samaroo)

Verse 3

From “Pan Explosion” back in ‘82
‘Sweet Pan,” “Pan Night and Day,” “Somebody” too
“De Iron Man,” and “Mystery Band”
“Four Lara Four,” “Pan in a Rage,” and “Guitar Pan”
Is nine panoramas, won with these songs
With Renegades, Dr. Jit ruled town
Eleven national “test-pieces,”
He composed for steel bands
Dis phenomenal, ultra-musical,
And humble gentleman

Chorus
_________________

Bridge


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Story behind the song, Dr. Jit Samaroo
- by Mark Loquan

“After taking a break from the Panorama composing arena in 2014 after 15 consecutive years, I decided for 2015 to compose a piece for Dr. Jit Samaroo, a pan legend whom I had met well over a decade ago. Over the years, I had interacted with Jit through the Music Literacy Trust and the Pan in Education pioneering project. I remember when Jit spoke at the launch of the Original Notes project (a rare act for him to talk in public) marking the preservation of 6 of his compositions and arrangements for education, how much emotion came to the surface when he was describing how pan provided an opportunity for him and his family. I believe he always has carried that perspective, motivating him to give back by teaching young kids at BP Renegades Youth Steel Orchestra and having ambitions to do the same at his own home.

Dr. Jit Samaroo and Mark Loquan - 2003
Dr. Jit Samaroo and Mark Loquan - 2003

“With Jit ailing, I thought this was the least I could do, even though I knew it was difficult to get the creativity flowing so far away from Trinidad, in Perth, Australia. The piece took quite a long time, and came in fragments of music which were pieced together. The idea I had was more to develop a melody which had a strong Kitchener feel to it, given that Jit had arranged several of Kitch’s songs over the years, with 5 out of 9 Panorama wins with BP Renegades being with Kitch’s music.

“I thought initially it would be an imaginary Kitch tribute to Jit, which is why the melody has that feel. However when “GB” decided to do the lyrics, he spent time with Jit’s son Amrit, to get a detailed historical perspective of Jit’s evolution with music which ranged from Kitch’s music to his own compositions and test pieces. The story is therefore unearthing how he started, up to what he has accomplished.

“There is no doubt that Dr. Jit Samaroo’s contribution to pan, goes far beyond Panorama. He has left a rich musical legacy, which many pan arrangers and composers can aspire to, with a body of music preserved in universities and schools. His arrangements will continue to touch many souls all over the world musically well into the future. Trinidad and Tobago is fortunate to have him as a son of the soil in the pan fraternity. More than that, he is one of the most humble human beings I have ever met, and I am thankful to have had a chance to share a part of my musical journey with him (Jit arranged Another Time, Another Place and Woman in Pan for Pan in Education). This song is for you, Jit.”

Vocalist Anslem Douglas
Anslem Douglas

 

For the 2015 Panorama season, top vocalist Anslem Douglas has already been ‘out of the gate’ with Hot Up Dey Head, and being as in demand as he is, returns to bring vocal life to the track honoring one of Trinidad & Tobago’s steelband icons, arranger Dr. Jit Samaroo.

Dr. Samaroo is sung by Douglas, the  Grammy award-winning composer of “Who Let The Dogs Out,” Douglas’ vocal work has also brought alive such marquis ‘Pan Songs’ as Len “Boogsie” Sharpe’s Musical Vengeance, Battle Zone and It’s Showtime by Edwin Pouchet, and Brian “Bean” Griffith’s Big In De Dance, to name but a few over the last several years.

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2015 represents the 16th year, Mark Loquan is composing for Panorama.  Mark is also the Musical Director of the first steelband in Western Australia, Perth Pandemix which started in early 2013.  He has produced/co-produced works such as Passion for Pan album (2000), and the pioneering products of Pan In Education (2004), and Pan in Education 2 (2011).

Mark has produced several popular songs for Panorama, which have been performed in Trinidad, and across the globe in main pan events as well as in schools and universities.  Starting with songs like Glory, Passion for Pan, Fire and Steel, Identity, Frenzy, Colours Again, he has also collaborated musically with Amrit Samaroo, Edwin Pouchet, Ken “Professor” Philmore, Andy Shaefe—and for 2015 with Seion Gomez—to produce songs like Celebration Time, Hooked, Dangerous, Surrender, Calling Meh, and Vibes. He has also worked with a multitude of singers, writers, and performers and has enjoyed long term collaborations with Denyse Plummer and Destra Garcia over his musical journey.

Mark took a break for 2014 after 15 consecutive years of producing music for pan, but is back with music for Panorama 2015.

 

Gregory “GB” Ballantyne

Gregory “GB” Ballantyne began composing professionally in 1986, when he collaborated with Len “Boogsie” Sharpe to pen Pan Rising and Dis Feeling Nice sung by Denise Plummer. In the ensuing years he would co-write winning Panorama selections for Desperadoes, and again for Phase II.

In Trinidad, GB’s compositions have won the National Calypso Monarch (Senior and Junior) Young King, International Humour, National Queen, Unattached Monarch, South Calypso King and East Zone Monarch.  His works have placed artistes like Rikki Jai, Devon Seale, The Mystic Prowler, Aaron Duncan, to name a few, into winner’s row.

GB’s credits also include National and Regional Calypso Monarch titles in Antigua and Anguilla, as well as Chutney hits such as ‘Tassa-Man’ sung by Rooplal Gidharie and the perennial favourite ‘Ribbons’ sung by Marilyn Williams.

 

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