Sherwin Cooper

Of all his exploits in the world of music so far, nothing warms Sherwin Cooper’s heart like the smiles people offer in return for his exquisite playing of the steelpan. The disc jockey who is learning to play the piano while managing his own one-stop music enterprise called Symplsher Entertainment in Palmyra Village, Palmyra, described the publics response to his panmanship as one of his greatest joys. His instrument of choice is the tenor pan. It’s been more than two decades since this versatile pannist has been filling the hearts of people around the world, but he still couldn’t understand the challenges related to the acceptance and ultimately the lack of respect shown to the national musical instrument of T&T, even at home.

“I perform at different places where people leave their seats and dance to my playing. Some people have started to like and appreciate pan. They were only exposed to pan around Panorama time. It’s a great joy to see people leave with smiles on their faces having been musically satisfied and knowing that I’m the reason for that,” he said. Cooper added: “My dream is to see pan respected throughout the world as any other instrument and for someone to win a Grammy Award using the steelpan.” Twenty-three years after Cooper, 36, embraced the pan, he’s proud to declare his family’s support for his career path as absolute. He won them over by proving he could make a difference using the pan and be successful at it.

Having proved his ability to positively impact the lives of others using his talent, he’s now on course to improve his marketability on the pan. Cooper is presently pursuing music theory, then studies in sound engineering. “I have grown musically. I understand the different moods and the effect music can have on people. My playing skills have matured in terms of improvisation too. “My goal is to provide world class service and a memorable experience through music,” said Cooper. While he never saw himself as an arranger, he has an interest in the art of composing and is in the process of writing a song.

“I am motivated by the negative people who say that a steel drum musician cannot have a good life. I take that negative thought and turn it to motivate me and prove to them that anyone can be a winner. Just have faith in yourself and understand the need to start thinking outside the box. It is not what you do, but how you do it that makes the difference.”

Determination pays off
Against his father’s wishes Cooper started playing the pan while attending Pleasantville Senior Comprehensive School in San Fernando, at age fourteen. By that time, he already had a strong steelband influence from his father Michael Garcia—a veteran pannist who used to bring home his tenor. “I fell in love with it, but my father never wanted me to play the instrument. He felt I deserved better and didn’t want me to waste my time in a pan yard. “When I joined the band, my father found out he took away my sticks. He said we are not sending you to school to play pan. “I had a smirk on my face. I knew I could always get sticks. I was determined to learn to play the instrument. Today, I’m a steel drum musician by profession,” he declared.

Cooper identified arranger Ken “Professor” Philmore as his mentor. Philmore, he said, epitomised modesty and portrays love at all times to all with whom he comes into contact.
“But my biggest motivator and supporter is my loving wife Tricia Cooper. She inspires me to climb the mountain and not to give up. She keeps my faith alive.” Yet, he could not deny the positive impact Leticia Taylor, Francis “Ancil” Webb and Roger Charles have caused in his life. Taylor helps sharpen his protocol skills, while Webb, a principal pannist with NLCB Fonclaire shares his knowledge in the business of music and sound systems.

Charles’ impact on Cooper’s life relates to music education. Many pannists are active in sports, but not Cooper. “Sports? That’s a no, no. I used to play lawn tennis. When I decided to play pan full time I stopped to avoid injury. “In my spare time I visit different spots with live entertainment and meet and interact with different musicians to get a better understanding of their style and what makes them unique,” he said. Some of his best moments in pan come from the opportunities to travel around the world to showcase the instrument, but his greatest moment in pan came, “when I resigned from Skiffle Bunch Steel Orchestra. Despite what management said about me, I am able to manage my own business and employ people to help me offer musical entertainment throughout the world.”