GUINNESS CAVALIERS "PRIDE OF THE SOUTH"
Trinidad Guardian
October 23, 2001
Page 20
Short History of the Guinness Cavaliers
What the Guinness Cavaliers Steel Orchestra did for San Fernando with its innovative leader and arranger, Lennox Bobby Mohammed cannot be forgotten. What they meant to San Fernando is something that those who actually heard the band play in that era from the 60s to the early 70s will remember with great admiration and pride. Indeed the band was deemed "Pride of the South." They brought great fame to San Fernando, as the town was looked upon as having the champion steelband. For a long time they continued to set trends in the Panorama festival with their unique style and approach.
The greatness of the band's leader, Bobby Mohammed, is something yet to be surpassed. Mohammed, dared to set new standards and a new approach to arranging. Leading the band with a bell in his hand, he would control the whole Savannah at Panorama, as the crowds waited expectantly on his next move. It was like a piece of drama as Mohammed had the crowds eating out of his hands.
Some of the great names in calypso today like Super Blue, Ronnie McIntosh and others who were on hand to witness the spectacle, and were inspired by the way the crowds reacted to Mohammed and his impact on them, and tried to recreate that effect within their performances. It took a steelband leader to show them the way.
The Guinness Cavaliers was the birthing ground for many other bands and arrangers in Trinidad and Tobago. The Hatters, Fonclaire and Skiffle Bunch are just a few of the bands that were born out of the Guinness Cavaliers.
The numerous awards that Bobby Mohammed has received for his work with the Cavaliers testifies of his greatness in the steelband world, and his name has gone down in the history books as one of the greatest composers ever in our history.
Bobby Mohammed does not take all the glory for himself though. He credits a great part of his success to a number of people, including his late father Hilton Z. Mohammed, school principal, who was one of his greatest inspirations. Support also came from other members of the family, including his brothers Selwyn and Lester who were also members of the band. Of course the sponsor of the band, Guinness Caribbean Limited played a great part in assisting the band in its success. Many people contributed to helping the Guinness Cavaliers put San Fernando on the steelband map in Trinidad and Tobago.
Short History of the Guinness Cavaliers
1964:
Made the finals in the first ever South Steelband Competition.
1965:
Won every steelband competition on the road in San Fernando.
First in South Panorama Finals.
First in National Panorama Finals.
1966:
Won every steelband competition on the road in San Fernando.
First in South Panorama Finals.
Second in National Panorama Finals.
1967:
First in South Panorama Finals.
First in National Panorama Finals.
First in the Bomb Competition (first time introduced to south).
Third Place in the 'Is Paris Burning' Competition.
Won every steelband competition on the road in San Fernando.
1968:
Did not compete but toured Venezuela, playing for Carnival in Margarita.
1969:
Second in South Panorama.
Second in National Panorama.
Won National Panorama People's Choice.
1970:
First in South Panorama.
First in Bomb Competition.
Second in National Panorama People's Choice.
1971:
Fourth in South Panorama.
Made the Semi Finals of National Panorama.
1972:
This was the last year the band competed in Panorama. They placed 6th in the South Panorama and missed the Nationals by one point.