When one talks about pan wizardry, they can be referring to none other than iconic Phase II Pan Groove Steelband arranger Len “Boogsie” Sharpe. The late musicologist Pat Bishop anointed him with the famous title.The “boy from Benares Street”, St…
When one talks about pan wizardry, they can be referring to none other than iconic Phase II Pan Groove Steelband arranger Len “Boogsie” Sharpe. The late musicologist Pat Bishop anointed him with the famous title.
The “boy from Benares Street”, St James, was born on October 28, 1953. He is gearing up to celebrate his 72nd birthday at the ensemble’s Hamilton Street, Woodbrook, home. He will be joined by the top four steelbands—Massy All Stars, Desperadoes, bpTT Renegades and Republic Bank Exodus.
“Boogsie” is also set to launch his website during the celebration so that local, regional and international fans can get a taste of his repertoire. His panoply includes “Feeling Nice”, “Dis One Is for You” and “Trini Gone Wild”. He has worked with Mt Lambert arranger extraordinaire Leston Paul, singers Ann Marie Inniss, soca artistes Olatunji, Kes and Swappi, and the late great calypsonians Denyse Plummer and Leroy Calliste (Black Stalin).
During the 2025 Panorama competition, Phase II Pan Groove placed fifth with “Pan and Soca”.
In 1987, “Boogsie” made history by being the first person to compose and arrange his prize-winning piece, “This Feeling Nice for Panorama”.
In 2020, The University of the West Indies, St Augustine, awarded “Boogsie” an honorary Doctor of Letters for pan composition, arrangement and performance.
72nd trip around the sun
Spearheading the celebrations is Phase II Pan Groove’s captain, Michelle Huggins-Watts. In a recent phone interview she said: “We are excited. Phase II is looking forward to celebrating Boogsie’s birthday. It’s his 72nd trip around the sun. He was born on October 28, but we’re having the event on November 1.”
She added: “We have invited the incoming French Ambassador Guillaume Pierre. He loves our culture. He got a taste of Jouvert at Invaders Yard. He is passionate about our culture. We are hoping the Culture Minister Michelle Benjamin will attend. We are inviting a number of dignitaries so they can celebrate and have some fun with our beloved pan icon.”
She continued: “He has given decades to the industry. He has mentored a lot of pannists. He has worked with top arrangers and singers. It’s only fitting that steelpan ensembles gather to celebrate his birthday. We are having Massy All Stars, bpTT Renegades and Desperadoes Steel Orchestra. They are welcome in our yard. Their supporters will be joining them. We look forward to the infectious rhythms of the steelpan. Who knows, we might even have a flag woman?”
Huggins-Watts shared “Boogsie” will be launching his website, saying, “On that day, he will have some of his music for sale. He will be launching his website. It’s music for his legions of fans. The website is DrBoogsieSharpeMusic.com. Visitors and locals will be able to own his music. We will even have a deejay.”
She said guests might get to win a prize.
She said: “We will be having a trivia section. You can answer some questions about Boogsie, so people can go ahead and do some research. Read about his stellar contribution. People may want to share their favourite memories.”
She added: “We are still working on it. We will have some giveaways, maybe for the first 20 people. Who knows, everyone might get a welcome drink? We can’t forget the children. We will have some treats for them. It’s going to be a fun day for families. We know they may want to take pictures and make videos with Boogsie.”
Ahead of his time
Slipping into academic mode, she said: “Boogsie is a true exponent of the steelpan art form. The level of music he has produced is par excellence. He kept fighting against all odds to compose his music. Eventually, his style caught on. Now everybody is composing their music. He was ahead of his time. He introduced a number of young singers into the arena.”
She added: “He worked with arranger Ray Holman. Holman is famous for ‘Ray’s Saga’. Boogsie popularised the music and won several competitions. He’s an extraordinary pannist and performer. He has an amazing ability to improvise on the pan. He makes it look so easy.”
On his myriad talents, she said: “His work is established. He is versatile on the pan—chords, melodic lines, phrases. He can play any instrument on the pan and has composed many classical pieces that span the musical rainbow. He’s indeed a blessing to Trinidad and Tobago. I concur, Boogsie is the ‘Mozart of pan’.”
She said: “He’s creative. He’s colourful. He’s humble. He has a big heart. He loves people. People love him. My mother is in her late 80s. He said: ‘I am an old man.’ She replied, ‘Look young boy, rock so.’”
In a previous Express interview, “Boogsie” even registered his support for President Christine Kangaloo and her husband Kerwyn Garcia’s pan camp during the July-August vacation. He also said he felt the Winifred Atwell Auditorium at Queen’s Hall, St Ann’s, should have been renamed in honour of Bishop.
In a brief phone interview “Boogsie” said: “I am happy to celebrate my birthday. I’ve been in the business since age three. I’m an ‘ole man’ now. I like the idea that the top five orchestras are coming to play for me. We are all brothers. I will do anything for pan.”
He added: “I am in the studio. I am working on music for my website. I just want people to come and have a lovely time. I just want to say thanks to my fans, family, sponsors and the committee who are organising it. It’s a nice vibe. A nice feeling.”
Pan Trinbago president Beverley Ramsey-Moore said: “I always look forward to Boogsie’s birthday done in fine style. He’s one of our living legends. He’s also one of our youth ambassadors. It’s important to give Boogsie his flowers when he’s alive. Boogsie’s contribution to the development of the music is phenomenal.”
She added: “It’s more than the man himself. His music has left an indelible footprint. My birthday is on November 7, so I look forward to celebrating with him. We are both Scorpios.”
Also speaking by phone, Massy All Stars manager Nigel Williams said: “It’s an honour to play for Boogsie. Each steelband has about 30 to 40 minutes. We won’t let the cat out of the bag. We wish Boogsie a happy birthday.”
“Boogsie” began his career with the Woodbrook-based Starlift Steelband, where he worked as a co-arranger with Ray Holman. He played with Invaders, then moved to Starlift, the steelband with which Holman was taking the revolutionary step of composing music specifically for the instrument. Along with Holman, he arranged two pieces for Starlift: “Drunk and Disorderly” and “Never Can Say Goodbye”.
During his career, he has arranged for many other bands, including Silver Stars, Jewel, Deltones, Pan Congo, Ambassadors, Crossfire, Blue Diamonds, Potential, Survivor, Desperadoes, Crescendos and Ozone Symphony.
Sharpe founded his own steelband in 1972. He also arranged for Silver Stars, in 1971 for Tropical Angel Harps and arranged “Hush Up” in 1973 for Birdsong.
By 1975, Boogsie had become a household name as a pannist, arranger and composer.
His tunes included:
“Rock It With Pan”
“Rags to Riches”
“I Like to Beat Pan”
“Carnival Is Bacchanal”
“’79 Is Mine”
“No Panorama”
“Pan in a Rage”
“Pan Take Over”
“Pan Rebels”, culminating in 1989 with “I Music”.
In 1986, he won the Bomb Competition (North) with Phase II Pan Groove. He won seven Panoramas with his own compositions for Phase II Pan Groove.
Among them were:
1977: “I Like to Beat Pan”
1986: “Pan Rising”
1987: “This Feeling Nice” (tied with Renegades’ “Pan Night and Day”)