Profiles: Heroes, Role Models and Pioneers of Trinidad and Tobago - by Nasser Khan

45 WINIFRED ATWELL (1914-1983) S he was one of the best pianists in the world in her time and abroad. She attained much glory for her performances. She is remembered locally for teaming up with the then Pan Am Jet North Stars steelband to give a series of concerts in Trinidad called Ivory and Steel. In 1969 she received the Humming Bird Gold Medal. She was also a qualified pharmacist. EDWIN “CRAZY” AYOUNG (1944- ) H e pioneered the parang soca form of music and also played a leading role in promoting chutney music soca. Crazy was the first artist to sing a parang soca hit in 1978 (called Parang Soca) and is also among the first to sing a crossover Chutney Soca, Nani Wine, a big hit in 1989. SHEIK MOHAMMED (S. M.) AZIZ (1905-1963) A skilled mandolin and clarinet player, he was one of the early people who formed East Indian bands (S MAziz Orchestra). Another was Nazeer Mohammed who formed The Naya Zamana Orchestra and had well known singer Taran Persad in their group. Narsalo Ramaya, a top violinist player, took over the leadership in later years from S M Aziz. The early era of Indian orchestra music would have given rise and encouraged the various singing artforms such as ghazals and thumries and seen the rise of such singers as Fakeer Mohammed, Phiramat, AH Jan, Bel Bagai, Henry Dindial, Yusuf Khan, Ramdhanie Sharma, K. B. Singh, Isaac Yankaran, James Ramsawak, Noor Jehan,