Austin Community Steelband

CECIL FRANCIS - Steelband Director - A Captain of Trinidad's legendary Desperadoes Steel Orchestra, he played on their tours to New York's Carnegie Hall, Apollo Theater, and Brooklyn Academy of Music; Miami's Marine Stadium with Jimmy Buffett; and to the UK's Hammersmith Odeon. After migrating to the U.S. he toured with "Warrior Ant" production to Yale School of Drama. While living in Los Angeles for 20 years, he performed at Universal Studios, Disneyland, Wild Animal Park, universities, and added movie and TV credits to his name. He taught at the Long Beach Steeldrum School before becoming Austin Community Steelband's Steelband Director in February, 2008.

ROBERT GREENIDGE - Advisory Board Member - Robert, a world renowned Steelpan artist, arranger, and composer, took Desperadoes to 1st place Trinidad Carnival Panorama championships twice. He toured and recorded with Taj Mahal before joining Jimmy Buffett and the Coral Reefers in 1983, touring and recording with them to the present. He recorded with John Lenin, Ringo Starr, Earth Wind Fire, Helen Redding, Barry Manlow, Ralph Macdonald, and Grover Washington (Just the Two of Us). He performed with such jazz greats as Tommy Flannigan and Paquito Rivera. His movie credits include Working Girl, Clara's Heart, Hard to Kill, 48 Hours, Ghost Busters, Brothers, and Cool Runnings. Robert recorded his own CD, From the Heart, and three with his band, Club Trini, (Michael Utley and the Coral Reefers).

RALPH MACDONALD - Guest Clinician - Ralph has his mark on nearly every genre in traditional and contemporary music, from Percussionist for Harry Belafonte to Roberta Flack. He won a Grammy for writing Where is the Love and played on Grammy winning recordings: Carly Simon and James Taylor (Mockingbird), Paul Simon (Still Crazy After All These Years and Graceland), Billy Joel (Just the Way You Are), Roberta Flack (Killing Me Softly), George Benson (Breezin'), Bette Midler (Do You Want to Dance), Diana Ross (Mirror, Mirror), and Grover Washington Jr (Winelight), He produced co-wrote, and played on Just the Two of Us, and won a Grammy for playing on Bob Jame's TV Taxi theme. For 10 years, 1979-1988, he won the "Most Valuable Player of the Year" for percussion from the National Academy of Recording Arts and Sciences. He tours and records with Jimmy Buffett and the Coral Reefers.

LEON "SMOOTH" EDWARDS - Steelband Director, Fall, 2007 - Leon is award-winning arranger for Trinidad's giant steel orchestra, Trinidad All Stars, winning 5 of their 6 first place Trinidad Carnival Panorama championships. After moving to Washington, D.C. in 1988, he taught Metropolitan Steel Symphony and helped form Positive Vibrations youth steelband at the Cultural Academy for Excellence. During his 15 years with them, he prepared them for their U.S. State Dept./U.S. Embassy sponsored Senegal tour, the St. Lucia Jazz Festival, and two 1st place Virginia Beach Caribbean Festival Panoramas.

NATASHA JOSEPH - Instructor, Spring 2007 - Natasha, a noted Steelpan soloist, arranged for Trinidad's Chord Masters, Tobago's Panfanatics, and played in Panazz Players, becoming an arranger, She was Drill Master for Trinidad's Dixeland. Her featured soloist concerts include Carnival Dimanche Gras show twice, Queens Hall's Stars of Tomorrow, and with Ralph Robertson in Jazz in the Sun show on BET.

YOHAN POPWELL - Steelband Director, Spring 2007 Yohan earned 5th Level Music Theory from Trinidad's Queen's Royal College. He played with Trinidad All Stars and was their Drill Master and Stage Side arranger. He taught steelband at Trinidad public and private schools, arranged for many Trinidad steel orchestras, and was co-founder and arranger for the award-winning Panazz Players. He arrangements won 1st Place Medium Band titles in Trinidad's Carnival Panorama twice for Sforzata and 1st Place twice in New York Panorama for Sonatas.

CARL CATON - Instructor, Winter 2007 - As a teacher at Picadilly Elementary and steelband instructor at Malick Senior Comprehensive, he taught many of Trinidad's best steelpanists. With Harmonites Steel Orchestra he played cello, bass, double seconds, and tenor, and arranged for both them and Tokyo. Retired from teaching, he has become a much sought after arranger and music writer for Trini Calypsonians, including 2007 Junior Calypso Monarch, Tenisha Weekes.