Pioneer Grooves
Dedicated to the memory of Knolly Modeste, Pioneer Grooves features a diverse array of musicians who left their birthplace in search of a better life, bringing with them a rich tapestry of musical genres. From the legendary Steelpan players of Expo '67 to the vibrant singers of Reggae, Dancehall, R&B, and Gospel, these pioneers share their reflections on what it meant to seed an art form in a new home.
On September 17, 2017, I had the privilege of gathering at Montreal’s Place des Arts with 15 of the 120 men and women who traveled from Trinidad and Tobago to represent their vibrant twin-island republic. That evening, as part of the production “Expo 67 Live,” a special excerpt featured The Exponians, the renowned steelpan musicians from the T&T-Grenada Pavilion. It was a euphoric night for many reasons. For the first time, previously unseen film footage of some of the musicians and dancers was screened for the participants and their family members. In that moment, these individuals, celebrated figures from a remarkable world fair, were able to relive the magic of their past.
Much of Black history remains rooted in oral tradition. Inspired by this, Exponian Knolly Modeste and I began to dream of properly documenting the contributions of these panmen to the Canadian musical landscape. Thus, “Pioneer Grooves” was born from our aspirations. What started as a singular vision has now expanded to encompass a diverse array of genres of Black music from the Americas and the Caribbean. – Pat Dillon-Moore
Members of the band (and some new additions) in September 2024 – photo by Kioni Picou
Hollis Wilson and Leonard Marshall recording Episodes 1 and 2 of the podcast.
Stick around — we’ll be adding more episodes, archival findings, and behind-the-scenes photos as the series progresses.
This initiative is made possible by the Community Radio Fund of Canada.
