Global - Cut him, and there is absolutely no doubt that he will bleed “Desperadoes.” From a young boy, to being in his now-senior years (he turns sixty-seven in a couple of weeks) - Matthew Cox, for over 50 years has always been a member and supporter of the fabled Desperadoes Steel Orchestra. He has experienced both the glory years and the lean years - up-close and personal. Furthermore, he has rubbed shoulders with all of the legendary characters of the Desperadoes family.
2016 was an outstanding year for the Desperadoes clan as they captured the prestigious and coveted Trinidad & Tobago National Panorama Championship for 2016. It’s a feat that they have accomplished for a record 11 times, and for which Matthew Cox was right there.
Within him are a wealth of information and unique experiences that are so special and important to the steelpan music historical landscape; he is a walking, breathing, historical treasure-trove. In this interview Matthew, who is now focused on the Desperadoes extended family world-wide, brings into attention the greatness of Despers players, Despers youth, Despers women, Despers arrangers, Despers tuners and of course, their outstanding leadership and community.
In the interview Cox mentions many past and current Desperadoes family members both in Trinidad and New York who have contributed to the Desperadoes tradition - like Bertram Ash (cousin of Dennis “Tash” Ash). Bertram founded Exhibits Steel Orchestra in New York; Exhibits is the forerunner of Despers USA/Metro, Mikey Enoch who tuned Exhibits and Despers USA/Metro pans in New York (Mikey also arranged for Exhibits), Kenneth Collis (who formed Despers USA), Kenneth “Colors” Serrano (who started Metro Steel Orchestra, due to a ‘falling-out’ while in Despers USA). To be noted, “Colors” and the legendary arranger, the late Clive Bradley, were good friends. Junior “Mann” Samuel, leader of New York’s D’Radoes Steel Orchestra (which seceded), is Cox’s cousin. Hailing from ‘The Hill’ (Laventille) also, Glenda Gamory, leader of Pantonic Steel Orchestra (formerly Mystery Band), which in 1997 came out of ‘New Metro’ (which was previously led by Anthony Joseph). Mystery Band was renamed Pantonic one year later. And in 2016, Pan Evolution Steel Orchestra is comprised primarily of players who left Pantonic. “And there we have the top steelbands in New York - all [a] product of Desperadoes Steel Orchestra....So that all in one, what that is telling me is that we (Desperadoes) have influenced the New York Pan scene heavily. And being able to say that, I can proudly say that,” declared Cox.
Naturally, also talked about in the Desperadoes family and in several cases, at the core, were: Carl Greenidge, captain of Desperadoes before Rudolph Charles; (Carl was uncle of the renowned arranger Robert Greenidge), Wilfred “Speaker” Harrison, Donald Steadman and Georgie Yeates. Cox grew up with people like Elias “Peugot” Phillip, Knolly “Panta” Nicholas, Sr., (father of New York’s Knolly “Nicky” Nicholas and Brian Nicholas), “Tash”, Frank “Crawl” Findley, Curtis Edwards (current manager of Desperadoes), Joseph “Franklyn” Gerald (of New York’s Caribbean Youth Panoramics (CYP); Gerald was the first to play the nine-bass in Desperadoes, when the instrument was first invented by Rudolph Charles), Eugene “Gunga Din” Mc Clean, Ralph Davis, Glenda Gamory, Denzel “Belt” Botus, Sarge “Scipio” Sargeant, the Franklin brothers (Clem, “Cocoa”, Ian and one elder one) and more. Also known parts of the historical fabric: Thomas “Thunderbolt” Williams, Ursula Tudor, Anthony Mc Quilkin, Ellis Baptiste and Sean Baptiste, sons of Kenneth “Tenor Boy” Sampson, Wayne “Papits” Baptiste. And part of the future, Dejean and Deja Cain - twins - who are children of Desperadoes’ Patrice Charles and Martin Cain.
For Matthew Cox his other passion, Mas, is deeply interwoven with Pan. So much so that for a few years, he stepped away from the panyard and committed himself to producing Mas sections, and brought out bands both in New York and Trinidad & Tobago. He worked with Trinidad All Stars as they took Mas on the road. On one such occasion, he remembers seeing his ‘home’ band Desperadoes belting out sweet music ‘on de road’ but with no masqueraders enjoying the sweet pan. It was disheartening; as a Desperadoes elder he fiercely recalls the days when Desperadoes Steel Orchestra led mas bands made up of thousands of masqueraders - both for Carnival Monday and Carnival Tuesday. The experience was a turning point for Cox; he vowed to bring union of the orchestra and mas to life once more.
Matthew Cox
In addition to Desperadoes defending its championship for 2017, Cox is on a concerted drive to bring back Mas on the road with Desperadoes leading the musical charge. Cox already has a few designs, and is heading down to Trinidad at the end of October to liaise with the band committee tasked with the aspect of the orchestra’s mas component.
Folks interested in playing Mas with Desperadoes Steel Orchestra can contact Matthew Cox at matthewcox@gmail.com
Listen to Matthew Cox in his own words, UpClose!
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