Pelham Goddard: From Panyard To Platinum Groove

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Pelham Goddard — legendary arranger, composer, and bandleader — sits down with Corie Sheppard-Babb for a deep dive into five decades of Trinidad and Tobago’s musical evolution. From his early days in St. James panyards to arranging for Charlie’s Roots, David Rudder, and SuperBlue, Pelham shares untold stories behind timeless anthems like “Sugar Bum Bum,” “Woman on the Bass,” “Soca Baptist,” and “Engine Room.”

He breaks down the art of live band recording — when “one take” meant the whole band — and explains how reading music revolutionised the steelpan. Pelham also contrasts the rich compositions of the past with today’s “fast food” approach to production, reminding us why rhythm, melody, and harmony must all work together.

This episode is a rare masterclass in Caribbean music history, full of cultural insight, philosophy, and firsthand accounts of working alongside icons like Lord Kitchener, Clive Bradley, and Art De Coteau.

🎧 Listen now to discover how the sound of soca was built — one groove at a time.

👉 Click the link in my bio for the full episode.

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