The annual Reggae Marathon has become an institution in the international running community and this year’s edition promises to keep that reputation strong. The famed road race, which this year includes only the half-marathon and 10k, takes competitors through a scenic Negril route and is open to all ages and skill levels.
However, with this race, running is just half of the draw… It is called the Reggae Marathon, after all, and the event always lives up to its musical billing.
Whether it is the local roots band, an upcoming reggae artist like 2022’s headliner Ras-I, or even Kabaka Pyramid, the 2023 Grammy Award Winner for Best Reggae Album, the musical vibes at the Reggae Marathon are always scintillating.
While this year’s full lineup has not yet been announced, steelpan savants Silver Birds Steel Orchestra will make their customary appearance at the event. A Reggae Marathon live performance staple and event, the Silver Birds have been there from the beginning – mesmerizing guests at the famous pasta parties and even taking to the roadside to jam along the contestants as they run, jog, and walk the route.
Answering the Call of Steelpans
The Silver Birds, brainchild of founder and choreographer Dean Barnett, employs musicians from inner-city communities empowering them to take on the music industry. To be more accurate, Barnett crafts them into musicians.
Barnett himself was late to the steelpan and took a convoluted route to arrive at what is his calling. The leader, teacher, craftsman, and so much more, is himself a testament to the adage ‘it’s never too late to follow your dreams.’
Steelpan found Barnett, he says. “The beginning of pans for me was back in school. Trench Town [High School],” Barnett explained over the phone. “From the first day I heard the sound, it distracted me. Me never hear something like that before. Never see it, just heard the sound and walked. I just feel a connection to it. It’s a passion. I don’t know if it’s a past life thing,” he laughed.
He remembers following the sound across campus like a dog tracking food. Barnett would hang outside the bandroom staring at the drummers go about their craft. Despite the clear attraction, he never played in high school. It took a chance reunion with a schoolmate and a passing invitation for him to join a steelpan club.
Silver Birds’ First Flight
You know right away when you’re in a Silver Birds show. Gone are the floral shirts and Bob Marley covers you associate with a typical steel pan band. A Silver Birds show is electric, you never quite know what you’re going to get. The genre chameleons are never out of their comfort zone. You’re as likely to hear a cover of UK star Adele’s “Rolling in the Deep” as you are to stumble into a Michael Jackson tribute complete with one member in full King of Pop cosplay, including the spins and hip thrusts.
The Birds are an international act known in three continents. The group has only just recently returned from a gig in China playing local Chinese hits for a fervent crowd. Despite their meteoric rise, it hasn’t been the smoothest ride.
“I’m going to tell you the truth about that, even though I didn’t want to tell you this…” he started. Branching out on his own was a failure. He fell flat on his face. Barnett migrated to the States because, in his own words, “life is rough.” The musician was determined to forge a better life for his children. But, even there he could not escape the pans.
He reminisces strolling through the neighborhood and chancing upon a drawing of a steelpan on a wall. Of all the things, right? Barnett’s recollection feels like folklore. Under the image, he met a man from Trinidad and the two immigrants hit it off, bonding over a love for steelpan. As they swapped stories, this man told Barnett how the drums were made. This planted the seed of an idea within him. Someone makes steelpans, and he could be that someone.
How To Build a Pan
Barnett is the only professional pan maker in Jamaica. “If you should buy a pan from Trinidad and anything is wrong with it, they will request that you go and see Dean,” he boasts.
Pan-building is a technical craft and a patient one. “You get a regular 55-gallon [oil] drum and you use a hammer and pound it to concave it to a certain depth. You can’t use too much strength or you’ll burst it,” he warns. After hammering, comes ”burning in the notes.” The more technical term is tempering. The metal drum is rapidly heated and cooled through heating with a furnace until molten blue and rapidly cooled with water. This makes the drum hold its tuning – pitch – longer. Each drum can take anywhere from 1 – 2 weeks to make. Afterwards, they’re sent to Trinidad for chroming.
Silver Birds x Reggae Marathon
“The band was always electrifying for visitors,” shared Diane Ellis, a director at the Reggae Marathon. The Silver Birds first arrived on their radar through the hotel circuit, already a staple at a prominent Negril resort. Their mesmerizing energy would prove to be the perfect appetizer for the marathon, and the band quickly became favorites headlining the event’s famous Pasta Parties.
The relationship has only grown over time and has proved beyond beneficial for both parties. The Silver Birds Steel Orchestra is worth the price of admission on their own, and they’ve leveraged the exposure the Reggae Marathon grants into more opportunities. It’s not uncommon for the Birds to be booked for the week leading up to the marathon. It’s hotel, then hotel, then performing along the course, and finally starring at the famous Finish Line Beach Bash.
While the music brought the Band and the Marathon together, their compassion for the community is what cemented their relationship into the ever-strong partnership it is today. Almost every member of the Silver Birds was raised in the inner-city or a garrison community. One of the pillars of the Marathon’s outreach is enlisting children from the SOS Children’s Home in Stony Hill, Jamaica. As Ellis puts it, it’s about broadening the horizons of the children – opening new opportunities to grow and interact with the broader world.
The relationship between the Reggae Marathon and the Silver Birds Steel Orchestra is one of the most synergistic in the professional world. It’s rare to see entities this aligned in mission, purpose, and execution, but the Band and the Marathon are a perfect match. Both are committed to promoting Jamaican culture and empowering young Jamaicans through opportunities that they would otherwise never encounter.
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