Panwaves Steelband - In The Spotlight - By Jerry Bain

Sep 11

Sep 11 Panwaves Steelband - In The Spotlight - By Jerry Bain

Africa, Canada, Caribbean, Europe, France, Global

Ask anyone in Cambridge ( Ontario, Canada) about Steelband music and they willall tell you, Panwaves Steelband is our band. This Steelband was established

in 1989 by Clyde Dookie in the little community village of Hespeler, now part of the City of Cambridge. In 2002, Clyde Dookie was awarded the prestigious Bernice Adams award. Originally, when the group started, there were only 5 members, all of them, part of the Dookie family. There was Clyde, his daughter Erica and his 3 sons and his loving wife, Rose who still to this date takes videos of every function that the band plays at. Although the bloodline is still a huge part of today's Panwaves, shows now consist of members from Detroit, Guelph, Kitchener, Waterloo and Trinidad.

The band, in keeping with the local community spirit, has won first place for music in the Cambridge Santa Clause parades in 1997, 1999 and 2000. It also won first place in the Hespeler parade in 1991 and 1994 and brought home first place in the Sarnia Kinsmen parade in 2001. But don't think for one minute that all the music is played for Santa Clause parades, every year since 1996, Panwaves has represented Cambridge in the annual Caribana parade in Toronto. Of the 34 bands that attend this event. Panwaves was one of the only bands from outside the Toronto area, before Salah's Steelband came along from Montreal, that played in the Caribana event. One of the proudest moments for the band was winning the Trinidad and Tobago Republic Day Award for developing an arts and culture centre in Canada for the Republic of Trinidad and Tobago. They have also played at numerous festivals and were picked to play the Canadian national anthem at the opening of the Caribana parade in 1997.

Clyde Dookie was born in Trinidad, grew up in Movant and has been a resident of Cambridge since 1971. Panwaves was preceded by the 'Spreeland Steel Orchestra' which he formed in the late 70's. His brother, Winston Dookie is a player, arranger, helper and supporter of the 'Ebonites Steelband' in Trinidad and he still goes to Trinidad on a yearly basis to be with the band. The sound of Kenrick Dookie's steel drumming at the year's Canada Day celebration is a normal affair, Kenrick has also played at the Sarnia's Canada Day parade. "They've always been asking us to come down to this parade and we finally had a chance to, because the Cambridge parade didn't have enough spots for us this year," Dookie said. "Things kind of came together at the last minute." Kenrick, one of the lead players, said he enjoys playing and is well- practiced after learning to play the instrument at five years old. "It's in our blood at this point," he said. "We wouldn't make the trip all the way down here if we didn't enjoy doing it and seeing the smiles on everybody's faces." The band played a 25-minute set in Canatara Park, after drumming their way there aboard a float in the annual Canada Day parade. "You develop your sea legs," Dookie said about playing on top of a moving vehicle. "You have to have a good stance in case of any sudden truck stops or jerks... You hold on tight, but we're used to it. It's just sort of shows that Canada is the melting pot," he said.

Panwaves Steelband opened the 1996 Caribana parade by performing the National Anthem at the CNE Stadium grounds. The band can perform as a duo, trio or even a soloist. Music ranges from Calypso, Reggae, Latin, Soca, Motown and Top 40 Hits. Panwaves have also participated in the Scotia Bank Caribana Parades and Panorama/Pan Alive Competitions in Toronto from 1996 to 2002. Derick Dookie, the arranger and younger leader of the band has also played the steel drums as part of a rally to kick off Black History Month at the University of Guelph. So if you're ever in the Cambridge area and you happen to hear the sound of sweet pan,be sure to drop by and say hello, or if you'recoming up to Toronto for the Caribana at any time and you see the " Panwaves" banner in the air, just jump in the band and enjoy the sweet sounds of steelband music.