Junior was eager to follow in his uncle’s footsteps, Theo Stephens, who was a member of the popular band TASPO. His mother, Jeanette Edwards was also a talented tenor player. After playing with The Free French Steel Orchestra and The Hillside Symphony Steel Orchestra.  Junior became a member of the “Skiffle Bunch” under the leadership of Junior Regrello and Vice-captain David Goddard, and it was there where he met the great Len “Boogsie” Sharpe.

During the ten years he spent with Skiffle Bunch, he travelled through Germany, Holland, Austria, Sweden, Belgium, Scotland, Wales, France, Italy, Norway and Switzerland. One of their best appearances was in the Royal Albert Hall in England. He also had concerts with Skiffle Bunch in Singapore, Kuala Lumpur in Malaysia and even Mexico. In 1990, he was voted the “Player of the Year” in Skiffle Bunch.

During a vacation in Switzerland in 1996 he met the first Alpine Steel band named “Papayas” coming from the Wallis – Leukerbad (close to the “Matterhorn”) who engaged him as their teacher. As result of this work he
decided to stay and now teaches many other steel bands, whilst promoting the spirit of Trinidad. In 1998, he played at the Montreux Jazz Festival on Latin Jazz Night as well as various other gigs.  In 2000 he performed at the “World Steelband Festival” in Trinidad and Tobago with “PANCH” the Swiss steelband.

In the autumn of 2001 his idea of bringing Switzerland and Trinidad musically together resulted in “Swisstrin”.  Players from all walks of life as well as different ages came together to take part. Highlights were gigs at the EXPO 02 and Männedorf Steelband-Festival in Switzerland where Len “Boogsie” Sharpe performed with Swisstrin.  Junior also travels to London to play in the Notting Hill Panorama with Mangrove steelband as “Boogsie” is their arranger.

After another Swisstrin-Project, Junior is working on bringing a band for the Zürich-Carnival Parade and of course all players will be welcome!

Junior has contributed to spreading the steelpan culture world-wide, just as others before him have done. When asked about his commitment to the instrument he stated, ‘when the day comes, that I must die, I hope that heaven has its own pan yard, so that I can carry on playing this wonderful instrument.’

His contact details are:

Junior Edwards
Elsastrasse 9
8004 Zürich
Switzerland
Tel.: 0041 76 572 12 14