August has been declared Pan Month and one of the important events taking place is the Dr Jit Samaroo Benefit Concert on August 8.
Pan Trinbago is staging the concert for Samaroo who is suffering from Alzheimer’s at the Queen’s Park Savannah, Port-of-Spain, from 7 pm to 1 am.
Bands performing for the iconic arranger include Samaroo Jets, bp Renegades, Super Novas, Arima Angel Harps, Tornadoes, Sangre Grande Cordettes, and Trinidad Nostalgic with DJ Klass is Class. Contribution is $100 and patrons are asked to walk with their coolers.
Born in 1950 in Surrey Village, Lopinot, Samaroo is the sixth of 13 children.
He is an internationally-renowned pannist, steelpan arranger, versatile composer and musician whose affiliation with the Renegades Steel Orchestra has taken the band to nine National Panorama wins.
Apart from Renegades, Samaroo has worked with Deltones, Cordettes, Our Boys, Arima Angel Harps, Tornadoes, and Nostalgic steel orchestras.
Samaroo was awarded the Humming Bird of Merit (Silver) in 1987, as well as the Chaconia Medal (Silver) in 1995. In 2003, he was given an honorary doctorate from UWI for his musical accomplishments.
He has also composed ballads, gospel, jazz, folk, latin jazz, chutney, Indian and calypso songs. Eleven of his compositions were test pieces for steelpan competitions, and in 1996, he composed the sound track for Kamalo Deen’s full-length motion picture The Panman, which was filmed in T&T.
Another event to celebrate Pan Month is a boat ride aboard the Treasure Queen promoted by the Pan Trinbago Youth Arm on August 13. Boarding is at Pier 2, Chaguaramas, at 9 am, with departure one hour later at 10 am.
The vessel returns at 2 pm. Tickets are priced at $100 for adults and $50 for children under 15.
“We are hosting this event,” explained Youth Arm secretary Krista Martin, “to give the youth a new experience, to form new friendships and to renew old acquaintances.”
She added: “Adults are invited to show support and to provide meaningful supervision and interaction with the younger ones.” Additionally, members of staff at Pan Trinbago will act as chaperones.
Pan Trinbago’s Youth Arm is encouraging the public and steelbands to lend their support to this first fundraiser by purchasing tickets from Pan Trinbago Head Office, Park Street, Port-of-Spain, in the North, and at South regional offices.