Former National Calypso Monarch Denyse Plummer is declaring her love affair with the steelpan—the national musical instrument of T&T—like never before. The multiple National Calypso Queen credits her rise as an entertainer to her association with the only acoustic musical instrument invented in the 20th century. Except for learning and playing the band chorus for her song Pan Progress on the tenor pan in 1987 while as a cast member of SuperBlue’s (Austin Lyons) calypso tent called Culture House, Plummer never played the steelpan afterwards. But she’s not letting that lapse in judgment get in the way of her affinity for this indigenous instrument. She celebrated a silver anniversary last year, but lamented that not many people associated her rise as an entertainer with the steelpan.
And before the culture lovers get all caught up in her offerings for Carnival 2011, Plummer wanted to tell the world that her fledgling career in entertainment had its roots in the panyard singing music fashioned for the steelpan. “The proudest thing in my career is to have a relationship with the steelband. Remember, that’s how I started off. It was Phase II Pan Groove, (Len) “Boogsie” Sharpe (for) the first four years of my career,” she said. Plummer added: “Boogsie was the one responsible for getting me into the calypso business. I always had a soft spot in my heart for the steelband and not only Phase II. Panmen will tell you that they see me in their panyards while they are rehearsing.”
The next 20 years of her career was punctuated by her relationship with reigning National Panorama champion PCS Silver Stars. Plummer had become a fixture on the Parang and Steel concert series, conceptualised and staged by the band at its Tragarete Road, Newtown, Port-of-Spain, headquarters. At the 20th anniversary of Parang and Steel held in 2010, she was one of two entertainers with uninterrupted appearances on the playbill. Crazy (Edwin Ayoung) was the other. “Every time I came to Silver Stars panyard—they know I belong to Phase II, they know I sing for Boogsie and—it never was a problem. They would always welcome me with open arms and made sure I was comfortable. That’s the kind of respect and love I get,” said Plummer, smiling.
While providing vocals for pan inspired compositions from Mark Loquan, Plummer grew closer to Silver Stars. Edwin Pouchet, leader and arranger of the champion band, chose several of Loquan’s ditties as its tune-of-choice for presentation before Panorama judges. The top female entertainer said the steelpan and the panyard have always been a part of her life. “That is one of the foundation’s of our culture and I’m a part of it. How great is that? “I feel privileged to have made the cast for PCS Silver Stars Steel Orchestra’s Parang and Steel concert series for the past two decades. “When people hire you for something, they hire you for a year or two years and they change the entertainment or get fed up of you. For some reason I have never been dropped. Every year they ask me to come and I really feel privileged.”\
Even after two decades, Plummer still had not got used to the love she received from the massive crowds that attend the Silver Stars production. She’s comforted by the fact that patrons of different creed and race who started with Parang and Steel continued to support the venture. “You see doctors, lawyers, and laymen altogether. Everybody I speak to always comment on that point. That is so incredible. It’s just a place you come where everybody could come and embrace and have a good time. Everybody gets up and dance and are terrified that the time would run out,” said Plummer, laughing.
She said while venues like major hotels, official residence for the President and Prime Minister where she had performed were more prestigious, the panyard of Silver Stars is a place for family, friends, fun and warmth. Plummer referred to the décor and aesthetics of the venue at the event which catered for the elderly and the spirited alike. She made mention of the well-laid-out concession areas and the variety on the entertainment, too. “There is dancing, singing, hugging and kissing. I don’t know what it is. It’s just the atmosphere. Everybody leaves here feeling so happy that you can’t put a label (or) a price on that,” Plummer said.
