Ray Holman - "Own Tunes"

"Own Tunes"

1971 would prove to be a historical turning point for the Panorama competition, as for the first time Ray took Starlift to Panorama with a composition of his own - "Pan On the Move". Previously, only vocal compositions by a popular local calypsonian had been arranged for performance in Panorama, and members of other bands even threatened violence if Ray's so-called "Own Tune" won the competition, as they did not consider it to be a "proper" calypso. As the popuarity of a particular piece enhances its chances in Panorama, Ray's decision was particularly bold, as the audience was unfamiliar with the song, so the resulting award of third place is even more surprising, and further proof of Ray's outstanding skills than it may at first seem. Since the 1980s many other composers have followed Ray's lead in writing so-called "Own Tunes" (i.e. a piece composed especially for pan, rather than an arrangement of a vocal calypso) for Panorama. Most notably, former Starlift player Lennox Sharpe also known as "Boogsie" (leader and composer for Phase II Pan Groove) who has achieved cult status for his phenomenal arranging and soloing skills, was the first person to win Panorama with an own tune, which he has now done on five occasions To date, the only other composer to win with an own tune was Pelham Goddard, whose composition "A Happy Song" performed by Exodus, won in 2001. Other composers such as Kenrick Philmore, Robert Greenidge and American pannist Andy Narell and others followed him and today, the Panorama "Own Tune" is becoming more commonplace.