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

60 JACOB D. ELDER (1913-2003) T obago-born, he was a noted anthropologist, author, educator, and cultural advocate for Trinidad and Tobago. Dr. Elder’s extensive research on the history of kalinda, pan, calypso, and other aspects of Carnival, as well as steel bands, the Yoruba religion and Caribbean folktales is an important source of reference. He served as Minister of Culture and Education for Tobago and as consultant to the Ministry of Youth, Sport, Culture, and Creative Arts for the government of Trinidad and Tobago. His many works include Song Games from Trinidad and Tobago; From Congo Drum to Steelband: A Socio-historical Account of the Emergence and Evolution of the Trinidad Steel Orchestra, Lopinot, a Historical Account and Folk songs from Tobago: Culture and Song in Tobago. In 1981 he was awarded the Humming Bird Medal Gold. DENZIL “DIMES” FERNANDEZ (1944-2020) D enzil “Dimes” Fernandez has been a steelpan innovator, tuner and educator for over 50 years. He pioneered the Bore method, which produces steelpans with greater tonal range and clearer, longer notes. He used this technique to create the Bore Pan, Panzer, Duo Bore Pan, U Bass/Den Pan, Bore Reed Pan, and the Bore-Reed Cello Pan. Internationally, he served as the tuner for seven bands in Washington D.C. between 1991 and 1999, theWorldMissions Steel Orchestra (1992), as well as the Kawaguchi High School (1995-1999) and the Supersonic Steel DrumAcademy (1997-1999) in Japan. He taught pan construction techniques for the Pan Rising Company in Japan, and in 2000, he taught pan construction and tuning in Amsterdam, Holland. Fernandez travels throughout Europe, Japan and the United States sharing his skills.