UK steel band history
We weren’t the first professional steel band in the UK, but we are most definitely descended from it. In the first place, Paul and Mark’s fathers, the Cherrie brothers Max and Ralph, both played piano as their first instruments back in Trinidad. After emigrating to England, they were amongst the first of their generation to play steel pans professionally in the UK with Russ Henderson’s steel band.
To further explain, Russ- also a pianist- and another band member, Sterling Betancourt- who had stayed in the UK after playing with TASPO (the Trinidad All Star Percussion Orchestra) at The Festival of Britain- are regarded as pioneers of professional steel pan playing in the UK. Consequently and deservedly, they have received recognition with OBEs as rewards for their achievements. To emphasize, these achievements are ones the Cherrie family partly shares with them by being part of the steel band that led the first carnival parade in Notting Hill.