Searchlight Logo
special_image

    • News
      • Front Page
      • News
      • Breaking News
      • Press Release
      • Features
      • Special Features
      • From the Courts
      • Sports
      • Regional / World
    • Opinions
      • Editorial
      • Our Readers’ Opinions
      • Bassy – Love Vine
      • Dr. Fraser- Point of View
      • R. Rose – Eye of the Needle
      • On Target
      • Dr Jozelle Miller
      • The World Around Us
      • Random Thoughts
    • Advice
      • Kitchen Corner
      • What’s on Fleek this week
      • Health Wise
      • Physician’s Weekly
      • Business Buzz
      • Hey Rosie!
      • Prime the pump
    • ePaper
    • Obituaries
      • In Memoriam / Acknowledgement
      • Tribute
    • Contact Us
      • Advertise With Us
      • Letters To The Editor
      • General Contact Information
      • Contact our Webmaster
    • About Us
      • Privacy Policy
      • Interactive Media Ltd
      • St. Vincent & the Grenadines
    • Subscribe
    • News
      • Front Page
      • News
      • Breaking News
      • Press Release
      • Features
      • Special Features
      • From the Courts
      • Sports
      • Regional / World
    • Opinions
      • Editorial
      • Our Readers’ Opinions
      • Bassy – Love Vine
      • Dr. Fraser- Point of View
      • R. Rose – Eye of the Needle
      • On Target
      • Dr Jozelle Miller
      • The World Around Us
      • Random Thoughts
    • Advice
      • Kitchen Corner
      • What’s on Fleek this week
      • Health Wise
      • Physician’s Weekly
      • Business Buzz
      • Hey Rosie!
      • Prime the pump
    • ePaper
    • Obituaries
      • In Memoriam / Acknowledgement
      • Tribute
    • Contact Us
      • Advertise With Us
      • Letters To The Editor
      • General Contact Information
      • Contact our Webmaster
    • About Us
      • Privacy Policy
      • Interactive Media Ltd
      • St. Vincent & the Grenadines
    • Subscribe
Siah musician of the first class
Local Vibes
July 8, 2005

Siah musician of the first class

Talk about Errol ‘Siah’ Isaacs and what comes to mind is culture. For some, his image encompasses the embodiment of Vincentian folklore.

He is also the son of famed pannist Walton’ Tanny’ Peters, who passed away eight years ago. {{more}}

Siah is home from his base in New Orleans where he works as a musician, both solo or with a number of groups. He has performed at the Louisiana Cultural Fest, which highlights a number of jazz acts.

Siah emerged through the steel band industry and now has as one of his tasks to retain the Panorama title for his band Cable & Wireless Starlift.

He arranged Starlift’s 2005 number ‘Who is the band?’ which was composed and sung by another Starlift pannist Kingsley ‘Hero’ Roberts.

Perhaps no one knows Starlift better than Siah. He first played for that steeband at Panorama when he was only seven-years old. His dexterity then was astounding. Patrons recall him having to be perched on a box to reach the pan.

Siah has climbed the musical ladder, as far as his passion for the art takes him. And that seems an inexorably distant journey for there is no limit to Siah’s dreamswhich he is intent on fulfilling.

Siah has been arranging since 1978 and is a pillar in Starlift’s winning record over its 38 years of existence.

But he is not pleased with the decline of pan , is keen on doing something about it. Siah wants to help youngsters improve their arrangement skills.

He thinks there are too many of the “simple two chords, and less than being an orchestra.”

He wants to see arrangers “more versatile, with a wider repertoire.” He thinks that arrangers should cater for “reaching persons of different age groups.”

“When we accomplish that, pan will rise again,” Siah pointed out.

Siah expressed an opinion of abandonment by Masmen and Calypsonians in an effort to enhance the festival package. And as a result, Pan has suffered.

He lamented the demise of the Solo competition, which marked part of the carnival celebrations. He points to the Solo as important to the bringing skills of the pan player.

“Solo is very important. It lets you know the individual’s ability,” Siah said.

He was not speaking by guess. He added: It helped me a lot in the arranging field.”

Siah reflected on his last Solo Championship, a title he shared with Ken Isles in 1968.

A proud Starlift member, Siah boasted, Starlift never lost a Solo Competition. He outlined that Solo contests, enhanced pannists. He noted that pan has grown internationally, and the demand for players has intensified.

“It is marketable for us in the Caribbean. We are the better players,” he pointed out.

Though Siah is a full-fledged “culture man”he is not satisfied with the direction Mas is taking.

“Mas is less historical and educational. It is more fancy. It doesn’t tell any story any more,” Siah pointed out.

He also some observation about the calypso artform.

Rhyming patterns are not so fine. The melodies are fine. They need to go back to that rhyming pattern. The need to read poems,” Siah pointed out.

Another critical perception Siah mentioned was the emphasis on beauty pageants.

He cited that there was a drift away from the culture and he recommended inclusion of aspects such as the Quadrille.

He is not one to give up hope though and still has high optimism for the future. He is therefore happy with the Cable & Wireless junior panorama and the strength of that festival.

  • FacebookComments
  • ALSO IN THE NEWS
    12 left homeless in mid-day fire at Richland Park
    Front Page
    12 left homeless in mid-day fire at Richland Park
    Webmaster 
    September 5, 2025
    A fire that destroyed a multi-family complex in Richland Park over the weekend has left at least 12 people homeless, including a 23-year-old mother of...
    PM responds to US military strike on small boat off Venezuela
    Front Page
    PM responds to US military strike on small boat off Venezuela
    Webmaster 
    September 5, 2025
    Prime Minister, Dr Ralph Gonsalves has responded to reports by the United States administration that its military had carried out the bombing of a boa...
    Building material disappear from the Mary Hutchinson Primary School
    Front Page
    Building material disappear from the Mary Hutchinson Primary School
    Webmaster 
    September 5, 2025
    Police investigators on Union Island are said to be looking into the “disappearance” of building materials that were sent to the Southern Grenadine Is...
    What’s new at Fitz Hughes Government School?
    Front Page
    What’s new at Fitz Hughes Government School?
    Webmaster 
    September 5, 2025
    by Grace Francis After sharing a small space for over a year, children and teachers at the Fitz Hughes Early Childhood Centre went into brand new prem...
    MRI-6 donates over $70,000 for school meals for vulnerable students
    Front Page
    MRI-6 donates over $70,000 for school meals for vulnerable students
    Webmaster 
    September 5, 2025
    Several secondary schools and special needs institutions across St Vincent and the Grenadines (SVG) have received $5,000 donations towards meals for s...
    Minister of Information Technology  emphasises the importance of Cybersecurity
    News
    Minister of Information Technology emphasises the importance of Cybersecurity
    Webmaster 
    September 5, 2025
    Robust cybersecurity must be at the heart of the digital transformation that is currently taking place in St Vincent and the Grenadines (SVG) says Min...
    News
    Minister of Information Technology  emphasises the importance of Cybersecurity
    News
    Minister of Information Technology emphasises the importance of Cybersecurity
    Webmaster 
    September 5, 2025
    Robust cybersecurity must be at the heart of the digital transformation that is currently taking place in St Vincent and the Grenadines (SVG) says Min...
    Entities team up to boost disaster communication capacity
    News
    Entities team up to boost disaster communication capacity
    Webmaster 
    September 5, 2025
    The Climate Change Resilience Network (CCRN) in collaboration with the Youlou Radio Movement (YRM) recently embarked on a disaster preparedness initia...
    Ministry of Health to get more dialysis machines
    News
    Ministry of Health to get more dialysis machines
    Webmaster 
    September 5, 2025
    The Ministry of Health, Wellness and the Environment, is to obtain three more Heamodialysis machines as part of the revolution in the healthcare secto...
    PM Gonsalves heads delegation to Ethiopia
    News
    PM Gonsalves heads delegation to Ethiopia
    Webmaster 
    September 5, 2025
    Prime Minister, Dr Ralph Gonsalves, is leading a delegation to the East African country of Ethiopia; the delegation left the state on Wednesday, Septe...
    New Port to be opened on October 24- PM Gonsalves
    News
    New Port to be opened on October 24- PM Gonsalves
    Webmaster 
    September 5, 2025
    The modern port in Kingstown is expected to be handed over to the government just before this country celebrates its 46th anniversary of political ind...

    E-EDITION
    ePaper
    google_play
    app_store
    Subscribe Now
    • Interactive Media Ltd. • P.O. Box 152 • Kingstown • St. Vincent and the Grenadines • Phone: 784-456-1558 © Copyright Interactive Media Ltd.. All rights reserved.
    We use cookies to ensure that we give you the best experience on our website. If you continue to use this site we will assume that you are happy with it.Ok