Winston "Spree" Simon was an inventor, pioneer

Innovator

An innovator in a general sense, is a person or an organization who is one of the first to introduce into reality something better than before. That often opens up a new area for others and achieves an innovation.-History:...

 and musician

Musician

A musician is an artist who plays a musical instrument. It may or may not be the person's profession. Musicians can be classified by their roles in performing music and writing music.Also....* A person who makes music a profession....

 of the Steel Pan.

Life

Simon was born in Rosehill, East Dry River, Port of Spain

Port of Spain

Port of Spain, also written as Port-of-Spain, is the capital of the Republic of Trinidad and Tobago and the country's third-largest municipality, after San Fernando and Chaguanas. The city has a municipal population of 49,031 , a metropolitan population of 128,026 and a transient daily population...

, Trinidad

Trinidad

Trinidad is the larger and more populous of the two major islands and numerous landforms which make up the island nation of Trinidad and Tobago. It is the southernmost island in the Caribbean and lies just off the northeastern coast of Venezuela. With an area of it is also the fifth largest in...

. He is credited with the invention of the Ping Pong Steel Pan instrument.
Simon also was part of TASPO

TASPO (Steelband)

The Trinidad All Steel Percussion Orchestra was formed to participate in the Festival of Britain in 1951. The group presented the newly invented Steelpan to an international audience.-Members of TASPO:...

, the Trinidad All Steel Percussion Orchestra and visited Great Britain

Great Britain

Great Britain or Britain is an island situated to the northwest of Continental Europe. It is the ninth largest island in the world, and the largest European island, as well as the largest of the British Isles...

 in 1951.

Winston "Spree" Simon worked closely with Anthony Williams who later on invented the fourth and fifth Soprano Pan. Simon also gave Bertie Marshall

Bertie Marshall

Bertie Marshall is a pioneer, musician and music instrument maker of the Steel Pan.-Life and Merits:...

 significant impulses for his work in developing harmonical tuning.

The American musician and composer Van Dyke Parks

Van Dyke Parks

Van Dyke Parks is an American composer, arranger, producer, musician, singer, author and actor. Parks is perhaps best known for his contributions as a lyricist on the Beach Boys album Smile....

 celebrated the life of Winston Simon in the song Tribute to Spree on his album Clang of the Yankee Reaper

Clang of the Yankee Reaper

Clang of the Yankee Reaper is a 1975 album by Van Dyke Parks, containing only one original Parks composition. It continues his exploration of Calypso music started in the previous album Discover America...

 written and first recorded by Lord Kitchener

Lord Kitchener (calypsonian)

Aldwyn Roberts , better known by the stage name Lord Kitchener , was one of the most internationally famous calypsonians. He was the son of a blacksmith, Stephen, and homemaker, Albertha.-Life:...

.

Further reading

• Felix I. R. Blake: The Trinidad and Tobago Steel Pan. History and Evolution. ISBN 0-952-55280-9
• The Steelband Movement: The Forging of a National Art in Trinidad and Tobago. By Stephen Stuempfle. (Philadelphia: University of Pennsylvania Press, 1995)
• Ring of Steel: Pan Sound and Symbol by Cy Grant, MacMillan 1999

External links

• http://www.nalis.gov.tt/Biography/history_PanPioneers_WinstonSimonEllieMannette.htm
• http://www.trinisoca.com/steelpan/spree.html