European Stars And Stripes (Newspaper) - April 23, 1968, Darmstadt, Hesse By Bob Hoyer is . Bureau chief t1 he reaction is always the is sceptical when the musicians show up with their painted Oil Drums and their homemade when they Start to play the laugh in Stoos a remarkable sound fills Thea and the spectators Call or encores and for sgt. Kirby Rambert 2184thcommunications Squadron the final proof is in the performance and the response it always attracts. Inl964 while stationed at Shaw air Force base s.c., he led a steel band to the air Force worldwide Talent championship. A year later he entered a Ond band which advanced to the this year he took first place in the instrumental division of the . Championships at West Ruislip air station. The Quality and sound of steel bands never fail to Surprise american audiences Rambert said Bui in Trinidad Rambert is a native of port of Spain Trinidad they re taken for really have to be Good to arouse people in Trinidad. The steel band craze started there during the War with an Odd collection of Metal cans and now the Art has become so sophisticated there Are 30-piece steel drum bands in Trinidad that the Good bands play the classics even music by Bach and Chopin. Rambert had 10 years experience with steel bands before entering the air 1950 to 1955 he played in Trinidad from 1955 to 1980 in Bermuda. It took him two months this past fall to convert discarded 55-gallon Oil Drums into the instruments they Are known asians that make up the troubadours steel band the outfit Rambert enter Din the 1968 contest for Ben Waters air station. J. He pans arc constructed by Pound ing a concave design into the head of a55-gallon Oil drum with a sledgehammer. Next the head is divided into various sections with a Nail punch and blunted chisel to produce the desired and tuning follow. After exposing the marked drum head in Ahot fire for a half hour it is doused with cold water. Then the head is tuned by tapping the top and Bottom of the segmented areas until the proper note result. The pans Are played with sponge tipped Sticks. The troubadours is a five Man outfit the Lead drum the cello Section two Cut Down drum the double Bass two half drum the Bass group four Drums and the maracas which contribute the latin flavor to the music. The Lead pan or Tenor drum is played by Rambert who sets the Pace. Manning the four Bass pans is Lynum Mobile ala., whose Previ Ous musical experience included the snare Drums. Clarinet St sgt. Pat Heulett Jackson Ville fla., handles the cello pan Section and sgt. Willie German Immokalee,fla., a trombone player is on the double Bass . Joseph Petronsky new York an eight year Veteran on the accordion plays the and German Are assigned to the 81st Security police Squadron Heulett to the 81st tactical Hospital and Petronsky to the 81st combat support up. Is photos by Merle Hunter _ Lambert who now makes his Home in new York claims the pan is the world s cheapest instrument. And because it s not easy to damage it you play right through the rain. On carnival Days in Trinidad the never worry about the weather. In fact the rain seems to heighten the excite Rambert s wife Jennie a native new yorker tailored the smart uniforms Black trousers red cummerbunds and White shirts worn by the troubadours. Now that they be won the . Con test they re looking for engagements in air Force clubs. Unfortunately several members of the group Are clue for re assignment this summer. But that does t daunt Rambert. Allie needs is a half dozen old Oil Drums and a handful of eager musicians Anthell begin anew wherever he goes. Leader Kirby Rambert taps out beat As Joe Petronsky rattles maracas. The heart of a steel band some old 55-gallon Drums tuned and tempered to order. Tuesday april 23, 1968 the stars and stripes Page u
