Winston Simon
Winston " Spree " Simon ( born 1930 in Port of Spain, Trinidad; † 18 April 1976) was an inventor, pioneer and musician of the Steel Pan.
Life
Simon was born in Rose Hill on East Dry River, a slum of Port of Spain. As a descendant of African slaves, he also bore the nickname of his grandfathers as a family name. As a 9 -year-old, he played in the John John band in his area, which made percussive music with bamboo tubes and metal containers of any kind.
The time before the Second World War to the end thereof is regarded as the birth of the steel pan. In addition to Spree Simon and his group, there were other bands in other quarters, which also played on biscuit container or metal lid. The actual discovery of sounds in the sheet metal but Simon attributed. By repeatedly hitting the bottom of his tin box descended from this, what Simon was trying to smooth the soil from the bottom with a stone. It discovered Simon different pitches in the shaped of stone dents. 1943 presented Spree Simon a melody instrument with 9 tones, 1946, he had already developed an instrument with 14 tones.
Other neighborhood groups were also engaged in the construction of steel pans, making the development of this new musical instrument was continued. 1951 traveled the Trinidad All Steel Percussion Orchestra TASPO to Trinidad to represent the Festival of Britain. Winston Simon was among other leaders of various steel bands part of TASPO.
Simon worked with Anthony Williams, who later became the developer of the circle of fifths Soprano Pan. The discoverer of the harmonious atmosphere, Bertie Marshall spent much time at Spree Simon and received for his work more important impulses.
Winston Spree Simon suffered a stroke in 1970 and was then so heavily impaired that he should never play until he died in 1976.
Meanwhile, his homeland has honored him several times with various awards. There streets were named after Winston Spree Simon and monuments testify to the important position which he occupies in the cultural history of Trinidad.