Celebrating an outcast
Born in East Dry River, Port-of-Spain in 1940, Owen Serrette's family moved to Morvant when he was just one year old, a move that eventually saw him become a bona fide Harmonites Steel Orchestra member, a steelband he still faithfully serves. Serrette did return to his birthplace as a child, at 10 Bonaparte Lane, Basilon Street, to attend Rosary Boys' RC School.
It was during his return as a primary school student that Serrette first got involved with the steelband. At the age of ten he played with City Syncopators for the Carnival of 1950. At that time, calypsonians and steelbandsmen were considered "outcasts" as eulogised in Sparrow's calypso Outcast with the famous lyrics: "If yuh sister talk to a steelbandman, yuh family want to break she hand, put she out, outcast."
Said Serrette: "Because I was living in Basilon Street and attending Rosary Boys, I was attracted to City Syncopators."
Serrette's family was a very religious one so it is no surprise that his mother, on learning of his involvement in pan, broke down in tears. She refused to believe that her dearly beloved boy child was seen "beating pan" on the road, believing that he was associating with "bad johns" and "jamettes" who formed part of the steelband fraternity. Ironically, it was okay for Serrette's elder brothers to "beat pan," but not little Owen, who she saw as becoming a priest.
Indeed, Serrette's venture into the world of pan was cut short when he enrolled at the seminary at Mt St Benedict. But, though ensconced in the hallowed halls of the seminary, he managed to frequent the panyard of Flamingoes Steel Orchestra, located in "the Village" on St John's Road, the roadway to the Mount.
Upon departing the Mount, Serrette rejoined the Teenage Serenaders steelband in his then hometown of Morvant.
As its name suggests, this was an aggregation of young panmen who did not qualify to play with the loftily perched and legendary Ebonites Steel Orchestra.
Natural progression followed and Serrette eventually became a member of the renowned Ebonites outfit as a tenor player, his instrument of choice. This was a dream come true and at the time Ebonites, of Roses from the South fame, was known as "the dance band of the sixties."
In 1966, Serrette was lured away from Ebonites to Harmonites Steel Orchestra by its first captain Winston "Skull" Flemming and arranger Knolly Bobb. From that fateful move, in addition to being a stalwart playing member, Serrette served Harmonites in several capacities, inclusive of becoming an executive member, being appointed captain in 1980-90, and as manager from 1990-94.
By Peter Ray Blood
Trinidad Guardian.
