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About
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| The Russ Henderson Quartet |
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Russ Henderson was born in the Belmont Neighbourhood
of Port of Spain, Trinidad, in 1924. By the
1940s he had formed his own band, the Russ
Henderson Quartet. The group became well
known and loved throughout the island, delighting
dance halls and clubs with their rhythm and
soul.
Russel came to England from his home town
of Port of Spain in 1951 to study piano tuning
at the North London Polytechnic in Holloway
Road. An agent persuaded him to form another
band after hearing him play the steel pan.
So, Russ Henderson and his Trinidadian Steel
Band was formed and a gloomy post-war Britain
lit up to the sound of the Caribbean.
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| Russ Henderson receiving an MBE for Services
to Music |
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Over the coming years, Russ set about embedding
Caribbean music in the British culture. He
taught school children how to play steel
pan and lead his band into starting the Notting
Hill Carnival. He toured the country with
his band, playing on television shows, in
films, in clubs, at Cambridge University
balls and even at Prince Andrew's 21st
birthday party at Windsor Castle. He was
recently knighted as MBE by Prince Charles
and now in his 80s, he is still a regular
performer at the jazz connisseur's 606
Club in Lots Road, Chelsea. (You can see
some of his videos on the media page.)
Although the piano is his favourite instrument,
his love for the steel pan runs deep, as
deep as his love for his two chickens living
in his back garden.
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Official Website of Russ "Mr Pan Man"
Henderson - London, United Kingdom
Site developed by Chris Kalcov under Lines Media - 2009
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