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

61 ROSALIND GABRIEL (1948- ) R osalind Gabriel has kept the art of mas near and dear to her heart for many a year, ensuring that the children of T&T are exposed to the pure form of masquerading. She has produced prize-winning childrens’/ kiddies mas for the past 30+ years and is considered the matriarch in the field. Her presentation for 2012 portrayed a celebration of our 50 th Anniversary of Independence, and was entitled 50 Years Gold. She received the Humming Bird Bronze Medal in 2007. PHILIP “LORD EXECUTOR” GARCIA (Around 1880-1952) L ord Executor (Philip Garcia) was one of the calypso pioneers responsible for the spread of English language calypso (instead of patois) in Trinidad in the early 1900s. He recorded for the Decca label in New York in the late ‘30s. He was famous for singing about the events of the times. GEORGE ‘ SONNY’ GODDARD (1924-1988) H is involvement in steelbands began in 1941 joining the first steelband, Alexander’s Ragtime Band. For the next 40 years he was one of the most influential persons in the development of the steelband