Steel Drums

History

The evolution of Steel Drums or Steelpans comes largely from the island of Trinidad. It all started in the nineteenth century with black slaves on the island using hand drums for celebrations, dance and communication. The British occupation on the island feared that these drums were being used to carry secret messages and unite the people against their rule, and decided it best the ban the drum. A large portion of the population gave up and converted to the use of more European instruments, but the cleverer of bunch started looking for other ways to drum. Many turned to picking up sticks off the ground and banging them, this was the birth of the Tamboo Bamboo.

The Tamboo Bamboo was a bamboo stick, that when struck against the ground made a thumping sound. These instruments could be tuned and groups formed their own patterns. After a short while hostilities between groups brought the attention of the British and once again banned the use of their newfound instrument. The people then turned to the use of tins and other metal objects. The realization soon came that as you shape the metal, the tone changes and started the first shaping of steel drums.

In 1939 Winston “Spree” Simon played the first melodies on tuned tines. He is credited with inventing the tuned tins and the first dome-shaped steel drum. The need for more range in the instruments caused people to switch to a bowl or pan shape. The development of the pan music flourished in the 1940’s – 50’s but the music was still associated with the lower class. After oil was found on the island 55 gallon drums became abundant and these drums became the most common material to make the steel drum with. In 1946, Ellie Mannette created the first steel drum in its concave form, this is the same basic drum we see today, but the evolution of the steel drum is still going on.

Ellie Mannette

In 1937 Ellie Mannette was interested in the design of Winston “Spree” Simon’s dome shaped steel drum design. At the time Winston was making four to five notes on each pan but Ellie could not get this design to work so he decided to change it and make his on process. He decided to shape the drum like a bowl but his design was made fun of because of the similarity to a baby bath so his drums were known as "Baby’s Bath Time".

By 1941 Ellie was able to put up to seven notes in his drums and he was gaining popularity and respect among the community.

From the time of 1941 to 1945 he started using 35 gallon barrel’s and got up to twelve notes in the pan and others started using the 35 gallon barrels. Ellie’s pans became know as the “Barracuda” because they were the “baddest” drums around. He then moved on to use the 55 gallon oil barrel and the development of pans we see today.

Ellie Mannette has been credited with the creation of the steel drum