Alfred ‘Freddy’ Totesaut - 'The Music is not in the Notes, but in the Silence between!'
Freddy Totesaut started playing at a very young age with a Mexitones, moving on to form his own band called Dixie Harps. He joined Dixieland Steel Orchestra and, in 1960, won the Trinidad & Tobago Music Festival providing him with an opportunity to tour England with the band in 1961. With other members of Dixieland, he joined Les Flambeaux to undertake several European tours and a record album.
In 1977, he joined Metronomes Steel Orchestra and ploughed all his energies into rebuilding the band - making pans as well as arranging. His efforts played a major part in the band winning four National Panorama titles and establishing the band as one of the UK’s leading steel orchestras. During his time with Metronomes, he was a musical mentor to many of the players including the then young Eversley ‘Breeze’ Mills, who is now the Band’s Manager and Vice Chair of the British Association of Steelbands.
These days his work focuses on disadvantaged young people. For the past 16 years he has been working with the St Michael's Youth Project dedicating his time and energies into making young people exceptional musicians and part of an excellent steel band: The St Michael & All Angels Steel Orchestra.
Through the project's programme “Steel Pan in The Community”, young people befriend the community through community performances, at residential care homes and day centres for Older People and people with disabilities. They travel and support other voluntary organisations and work in partnership with Voluntary and Statutory sector agencies for the benefit of the wider community. This is now done weekly around the borough and now includes visits to wards at Northwick Park Hospital, Willesden and Central Middlesex Hospital. His work has been recognised and celebrated by a variety of organisations, including Brent’s Community Champions and the Marsh Christian Trust.
He arranges and teaches the young people outstanding classical compositions by Mozart, Tchaikovsky, Elgar and others, in which only highly talented people could do and would charge thousands of pounds for. Freddy does this for the love of the young people, allowing those from disadvantaged backgrounds to benefit from his tutoring and becoming the best they can be! He usually says "the sky's the limit for these young people!" and this is definitely true when he teaches! Through his inspiring teaching they have become the first steel band to play at St Paul’s Cathedral (twice), the first steel band in Brent to take part in the Notting Hill Carnival in 2009 and again in 2010. In November 2009, St Michael & All Angels Steel Band became the first Steel Band to perform at the Houses of Parliament.
Alfred Totesaut has also taught the young people of St Michaels Youth Project a wide selection of popular songs covering the past 100+ years. From Michael Jackson & Stevie Wonder songs, to Bonanza (TV Theme), Stand By Me, You are my Sunshine, and You’ll Never Walk Alone to Whiter Shade of Pale and Only You.
His work has been recognised and celebrated by a variety of organisations, including Brent’s Community Champions and the Marsh Christian Trust.
The Lifetime Achievement Award is the British Association of Steelband’s highest accolade. It is presented to an individual who has worked continuously and tirelessly to promote the music, culture and traditions of steel pan. Membership of the Hall of Fame is of the UK steel band community’s elite - Sterling Betancourt OBE, Pepe Francis MBE, the late Randolph Baptiste, Russell Henderson MBE, Gerald Forsythe OBE, Arthur France OBE, Earl Rodney, Frank Rollock, Ricky De Cairos and Dudley Dickson
Freddy was the recipient of the 2011 BAS Lifetime Achievement Award. He is a legend and one of those responsible for the introduction, integration and continued development of the steelpan in the UK. It has not been easy to find information on this outstanding musician, as he is an extremely private and humble individual.
The St Michael & All Angels Steel Orchestra’s management continually thank Freddy who throughout his whole life to this day, only asks and encourages young people and children to do their best in all things.
