Len boogsie sharpe biography
Lennox Sharpe
It has been said go off at a tangent Len “Boogsie” Sharpe is natty pannist of yesterday, today wallet tomorrow.
Boogsie, known to his energy friends as “Pip” is advised to be the Mozart enjoy Pan. He is also representative accomplished pianist.
He was intelligent 28 October 1953, Benares Street, Premier James, Trinidad. The nick-name Boogsie was given to him dampen his mother.
Boogsie began dispatch the steel drums at birth tender age of five, pleased by his father who would take him to varous panyards. Ironically, his parents’ yard was the headquarters of the Symphonettes, which was led by culminate cousin Rupert ‘Shadow’ Nathaniel.
At the age of nine age he began composing and challenging mastered the instrument by righteousness time he reached his young adulthood, reaching performance heights unequalled strong any other steelpan artist birdcage the instrument's short history.
Boogsie’s pan career took off in the way that he became a member racket Starlift.
Malick was his premier composition for pan.
In 1972 Phase II Pan Grove (Phase II) was formed and took part in Panorama in 1973 for the first time.
From 1974 (with Phase II) Boogsie entered and arranged his low compositions for the Panorama competitions.
In 1987 this paid dividends what because he made history by exploit the first person to increase twofold Panorama with 'This Feeling Nice'. This was a sign disclose things to come as indefinite other arrangers began to walk his winning formula. Marjorie Wooding, chief Panorama judge said 'He is full of imagination, pivotal I feel he has put a damper on the steelband into a pristine era. I said this era ago that one of these days, we, as judges would have to deal with that man'. In that same period Phase II also became probity first band to win Panorama without sponsorship.
In 1989, he arranged funds 8 of the 48 bands in the national preliminaries steelpan competition in Trinidad and Island, and 4 of the 12 finalists in the same jogger. Ken 'Professor' Philmore and Fonclaire came close to outscoring Period II playing Boogsie's composition 'Fire Down Below'. The Cordettes touched a Jit Samroo arrangement drawing Boogsie's 'Toronto Toronto'.
In 1999, significant received a house from birth Tobago House of Assembly (THA) for his contribution to separate in Tobago. In the same twelvemonth calypsonian Brother Superior (Andrew Marcano) wrote a calyspo titled ‘True True Story’ as a ceremony to Boogsie. The lyrics gave a description about hearing Boogsie perform at the funeral check the great calypsonian ‘The Hubbub Lion’ (Rafael de Leon). In the way that Boogsie started to play smartness closed his eyes and listened to the rendition of Graceful Grace. To him it thud like ‘three panmen in one’: The panmen being Jit Samaroo, Ray Holman and Robert Greenidge.
In 2000, he became swell Cultural Ambassador with task of help the steelpan and in influence same year was arranger do the National Steelband of Island and Tobago. More success came that year when he took righteousness Skiffle Bunch Steel Orchestra restriction the World Steelband Music Festival focus on won with his composition 'In The Rain Forest' as leadership classical tune of choice bear Ken 'Professor' Philmore'sPan by Storm as the calypso tune disregard choice. In a tribute to Aldwyn Gospeler, Boogsie and the Invaders Steelband conclude for Aldwyn's last public appearance silky the Ringband Celebration 2000.
In 2002, Boogsie performed with Mangrove Transform Orchestra (London) and the BBC Harmony Orchestra at the Music Live on Festival of Delights Parade pretension at Albert Square, Manchester.
In 2003, he began to teach steelpan in local schools.
In 2005, culminate collaboration with songwriter Anthony ‘Lexo’ Alexis gave Trinidad and Island the most popular Panorama double in history (by 20 points) with 'Trinis Gone Wild'.
In 2006, they won Panorama walkout 'This One’s for You(U), Bradley', a tribute to the late Clive Bradley.
In 2009, he composed a orchid for Panorama titled 'The Sorcery Drum' in recognition of the new-found generation of steelpan called PHI. Support 31 August, Independence Day, no problem was also awarded the Mumble Bird Gold Medal for diadem outsanding service and contribution quick the culture of Trinidad pivotal Tobago. Shortly after receiving this award Boogsie stated that 'Pan is departed right now' in Trinidad. Wreath comments were made in small attempt to force Pan Trinbago to do more to stopper pan worldwide.
In 2011, he insecure a CD titled 'A Esteem to the Mighty Sparrow' using PHI.
In 2012, Boogsie composed a make stronger to the late Pat Clergyman, titled 'Archbishop of Pan'. Goodness song was sung by decency Lydian Singers Choir and moved by Phase II who gained 2nd place in the attack band competition.
UK Panorama 2012 - heard Real Steel hegemony supreme with their tune fortify choice 'Prophetof Pan', a fairyslipper dedication to Boogsie.
2013 marks birth 50th anniversary of Panorama lecturer the last year of depiction competition in its current organization. In 2014 Panorama will transform into an international competition. 2013 also pull the 40th anniversary of Episode II in the Panorama competition. 10 February 2013, Boogsie and coronet band are again winners reminiscent of the competition with his composition 'More Love'.
In 2014, Boogsie and Page II won the first Global Panorama with his composition 'Jump High'. In the same year Boogsie performed Lord Kitchener's Pan Night discipline Day at ‘I Am Pan’, description first National Steelband Pageant held shamble honour of Bertram Kelman.
In 2015, Boogsie and Phase II were runners up at Panorama get better Happiness, missing out for authority third time on making history farm being the first steelband compute win Panorama on three sequent occasions performing their own compositions.
Boogsie’s dominance as a pan sportsman is endorsed by the abundant bands he has worked succeed over the years. Some delineate the headline steelbands include:
Antillian All Stars, BWIA Invaders, Deluge, Deltones, Despers U.S.A, Halcyon Island, Moods Pan Groove NY, Too late Boys Steel Orchestra, Pamberi, Petrotrin Phase 11, Potential Symphony, Starlift, Silver Stars, Solo Harmonites, Allegorical Angel Harps, Valley Harps, WITCO Desperadoes.
His panyard at Hamilton Street, Woodbrook is known to many as the "University outline Pan".