The steelpan is the only instrument invented in the twentieth century. It is formed by sinking the top surface of a fifty-five gallon steel drum and tuning portions of the curved surface to produce a variety of musical notes. Tommy Chrichlow is one of Canada’s four pan makers and it is known that Tommy does it all. He makes, tunes, teaches and arranges steelpan productions.
Tommy Chrichlow was born in Tunapuna, Trinidad in the year 1942 and has been involved with music since he was nine. At the age of eleven his love for pan music began after hearing the sounds of “Girl Pat” an all-girl steelband. The teacher Miss Henley noticed his ear for music, encouraged his interest and set him on his path. Soon thereafter he joined “Samba Boys” where, along with playing the bass guitar and the piano, he learned to play and make the steelpan.
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