Rudolph Charles and Neville Jules

​​Rudolph Charles - Born in 1938 in Laventille, Charles gravitated towards the Gay Desperadoes in 1958 and became the band’s leader three years after. He was known to carry his hammer around and was always ready to find the perfect note. He gave Desperadoes its characteristic tone which it’s known for even today. As an innovator, he was always willing to experiment to find ways of improving the Steelpan. He was the first to chrome pans which enhanced their tonal quality, durability and appearance. He also improved the canopies by using aluminum and designing them in a new shape. Collaborating with tuners Bertie Marshall and Lincoln Noel, the Rocket pan, Nine and Twelve bass pan, Quadrophonic pan and Triple Second Pan were created. He led the Desperadoes to 6 Panorama titles and 2 Music Festival titles. He was awarded the Chaconia Medal Silver posthumously in 2014. He passed away in 1985.
Neville Jules - He began as a Tamboo Bamboo player before becoming a founding member of the Trinidad All Stars steel orchestra during the 1940s. He was captain, tuner and arranger for the All Stars and during the 1950s and 60s he initiated a rivalry where All Stars would play a classical piece to a calypso beat. Invaders led by Ellie Mannette followed and the selections of each band became known as “The Bomb”. Jules is credited with inventing the Tune Boom which later became the Bass pan, the Grundig which later became the Cello pan and the Cuatro pan which is known today as the guitar pan. He received the Humming Bird Medal Bronze in 1970 and Chaconia Medal Silver in 2018. He passed away in 2020. (Source: the Mannette Academy of Dance, August 19, 2021)

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