20th Century Steel Band

The 20th Century Steel Band was a Trinidadian calypso-funk ensemble behind the 1976/77 albums Yellow Bird Is Dead and Warm Heart Cold Steel on United Artists.

Members: Fimber Bravo [aka Bravo] (pan, backing vocals), Goldfrun Moore (pan, backing vocals), Martin James (pan, backing vocals), Colin Moore (drums, backing vocals), Winston Findlay (pan, backing vocals), Gideon Rogers (pan, backing vocals), Mikey Brumont (pan, backing vocals), Trevor Williams [aka Trampas] (bongos, congas, percussion, lead vocals, backing vocals), Luciano Bravo [aka Bubbles] (pan, backing vocals)

Background 

The 20th Century Steel Band formed in London in the early 1970s around Trinidadian steel-pan players Michael “Bubbles” Oliviere and Fimber Luciano Bravo, both former members of the Pan Am Jet North Stars.

Oliviere began playing pan at age eight or nine in Trinidad and joined the North Stars as a teenager. Bravo joined the Port of Spain orchestra in 1966 under arranger and pan tuner Anthony Williams. Both musicians played with Trinidadian pianist Winifred Atwell on the 1969 Ivory and Steel concert programme and recording. The North Stars toured Britain in 1971 amid personnel departures that preceded the end of the Trinidad orchestra.

The London group comprised singer and musical director Oliviere, drummer Collins Moore, percussionist Trevor “Trampas” Williams, and pan players Bravo, Godfrun Moore, Martin James, Winston Findlay, Gideon Rogers, and Mikey Brumont. Some members also participated in an early configuration of Steel An’ Skin, a group organized by Trinidadian musician Peter Blackman around Ginger Johnson’s Iroko Country Club in Hampstead. The 20th Century Steel Band played the Baileys nightclub circuit and appeared on the Russell Harty television programme. The musicians expanded their repertoire to include original material with funk, soul, and reggae rhythms.

The group appeared as 20th Century Steel Sound on the December 21, 1974, edition of ATV’s New Faces. Comedian Marti Caine won the judges’ heat, while the steel band secured a return appearance through the viewers’ vote. On February 1, 1975, the nine-piece group won the viewers’ final and qualified for the July grand final. The band entered Roundhouse Studios in London in June 1975 to record its debut album, Warm Heart Cold Steel, with producer Alan David for United Artists.

Discography:

• Yellow Bird Is Dead (1976)
• Warm Heart Cold Steel (1977)

References and notes

• Panning for Gold: Fimber Bravo’s Favourite Music. Bravo recalls joining the Pan Am North Stars in Port of Spain in 1966, rehearsals under Anthony Williams, and the 1969 collaboration with Winifred Atwell. (The Quietus)
• Interview with Steel Pan Pioneer Michael Olivier. Oliviere recounts his Trinidadian childhood, initial pan playing, membership in the Pan Am North Stars, and performances with Winifred Atwell. (ICMP)
• The Pan Am North Stars Steel Band: A Connection of Note. History of Anthony Williams and the orchestra, including international tours, the 1969 Ivory and Steel project, the 1971 British tour, and the termination of Pan Am sponsorship in 1972. (Pan Am Historical Foundation)
• Reggae Is Here Once Again — Steel An’ Skin. Japanese reissue notes trace Peter Blackman’s earlier collective, Ginger Johnson’s Iroko Country Club, and musicians who joined the 20th Century Steel Band. (EM Records)
• Warm Heart Cold Steel. Reissue information identifies the Baileys nightclub circuit as an early source of engagements and confirms the debut album in 1975. (Mr Bongo)
• 21 December 1974 — New Faces, Series Three. Programme reconstruction identifies the nine-piece 20th Century Steel Sound, the competing acts, the judges’ winner, and the viewers’ selection. (You’re a Star, Superstar)
• 1 February 1975 — Viewers Winners Final. Programme research confirms the group’s victory, July grand-final qualification, nine-piece instrumentation, and earlier British television appearances. (You’re a Star, Superstar)
• Warm Heart Cold Steel — Original LP Credits. United Artists UAS 29878 documentation identifies Alan David as producer, Richard Dodd as engineer, and Roundhouse Studios as the June 1975 recording location. (Discogs release data)