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Listen to solid steel
The Esso Trinidad Steel Band are responsible for one of my fave cover versions ever - I Want You Back. And here's a handy wee music blog with a bunch of steel drum tunes for your enjoyment (check out Gary Numan's Cars done steel drum styles!). The Esso Trinidad Steel Band worked with a variety of folk, including Van Dyke Parks, and Liberace. Snip...

"... One of the band’s biggest breaks occurred during one of their performances at the Expo ‘67. Liberace, the world famous pianist, became fascinated with the band, offering them an opening slot in his show and taking them on tour for two years. Borde recalls, “He was very proud to present to the people in America, this unique type of music. He would come and play ‘12th Street Rag’ or ‘Alleycat’ with us.” With Liberace sitting in on a few songs, Tripoli recorded an album (‘Liberace Presents the Trinidad Tripoli Steel Band’), that later went on to win a Grammy Award..." Link.

Listen to calypso music fanatic Van Dyke Parks about his days traveling with Liberace and the Esso Trinidad Tripoli Steelband.