Anthony Williams and Bertie Marshall

​Anthony Williams
Before forming the North Stars around 1949, Williams was a member of the Sun Valley Steel Orchestra. In 1951 he was chosen as a member of the Trinidad All Steel Percussion Orchestra (TASPO) to represent the country at the Festival of Britain. As a tuner, Williams developed a note placement scheme whereby each tone was surrounded by other harmonic tones (the “fourths and fifths” tenor Pan) which enhanced the sound. This “spider web” pattern not only improved the tonal quality but is the main reason for the tenor pan becoming a major teaching tool for music theory worldwide. Additionally, he was the first person to add wheels to bass drums in 1956. As an arranger and music director he led North Stars to victories in the Music Festival in 1962 with “Voices of Spring” and again in 1966 with “Poet and Peasant” as well as the first two Panoramas in 1963 and 1964 with “Dan is the Man” and “Mama Dis is Mas.” In 1968 he once again led North Stars in shows and concerts with celebrated pianist Winnifred Atwell with performances locally, as well as the Bahamas and New York. This collaboration went on to produce the widely acclaimed recording “Ivory and Steel” which was the first of its kind. Williams was awarded the Humming Bird Medal Bronze in 1969 and the Order of the Republic of Trinidad and Tobago in 2008. He received an Honorary Doctorate from the University of the West Indies in 2016 and recently received another Doctorate from the Northern Illinois University this year.
Bertram “Bertie” Marshall
Bertie Marshall is responsible for several innovations and tuning advancements in the Steelpan world. By 1956 he revolutionized the tuning of steelpans by adding octaves and harmonics which gave pans a “brighter” sound. From Success Village, Laventille, he led the Metronomes Steel Orchestra and then the Armed Forces Steel Orchestra which became the legendary Laventille Highlanders. As an arranger, he produced several bomb classics such as “Let Every Valley be Exalted”, “Gypsy Rondo” and “May the Good Lord Bless and Keep You”. He introduced the use of canopies to protect pans from the sun as well as inaugurated amplified pans during the 1965 carnival. Bertie created the Double Tenor pan and in 1970 he became the resident tuner for the Desperadoes Steel Orchestra. He collaborated with the band’s leader Rudolph Charles on the chariot pan, quadraphonic and 12 bass pan. He was awarded the Chaconia Medal Gold in 1992 and the Order of the Republic of Trinidad and Tobago in 2008. He passed away in 2012 (Source: the Mannette Academy of Music, August 12, 2021)