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

49 by UWI, received the Hummingbird Gold Medal in 1986 and the Trinity Cross in 1995. JOSE AND IGNACIO BODU T wo Venezuelan-born brothers who organised the first sponsored Carnival competitions in Port of Spain. Ignacio was also involved in municipal politics in the early 1900’s while Jose was the author of Trinidadiana which was published in 1897, about the events and people in Trinidad from 1797 to 1897. HUGH BORDE (1933-2020) A n important person in the spread of the steelband outside of Trinidad and Tobago through his involvement with the Tripoli Steelband from 1962 when he was selected to lead the T&T National Steelband at the Commonwealth Arts Festival in Great Britain. He went on to perform to huge adoring crowds at the World’s Fair (Expo ‘67) in Montreal, Canada. From here, he performed with Liberace on a two-year tour. The band later recorded the album “Liberace Presents the Trinidad Tripoli Steel Band” which won a U.S. Grammy Award in 1972. Tripoli toured with entertainer Sergio Franchi and played at Carnegie Hall, Radio City Music Hall, and the Hollywood Bowl. The band also performed alongside legends such as Frank Sinatra, Sammy Davis, Jr., Bob Hope, Della Reese, and Dionne Warwick, and appeared on television shows hosted by Ed Sullivan, Mike Douglas, and David Frost. In 1976, Borde migrated to the USA, where he continues to perform. He received the 1971 Humming Bird Medal Bronze and is in the Caribbean Sunshine Awards Hall of Fame and Motown Detroit Metro Music Awards Hall of Fame.