About the Author - Anthony ‘DPAN’ Francis

Anthony ‘DPAN’ Francis from London, UK, has always had a love for all types of music from as early as he could remember. He took pleasure in singing and remembering chord movements of songs and bass lines and that has stayed with him all his life.

His first experience of hearing live music was at a venue that his parents would attend every Sunday called the Albany in great Portland Street where a live band would perform with bass and lead guitars, drums, keyboard, vocalist and a steelpan. He looked forward to this event every week, that had a great influence on his musical career and vision of the future for steelpans.

Once a month Anthony and his family would go down to the, the Tabernacle in Powis Square, where the big Steelbands like Ebony, Metronomes, Mangrove and London all Stars would perform along side the Soca DJs’ of the time, in the likes of Lord Sam, Shadow Hifi, Black Patch and Fats, this was a carnival event that showcased the Steelbands throughout the year.

In 1974, he attended his first London carnival and has attended and participated every year since. He fondly recollects his first Trinidad and Tobago carnival experience in 1975, an experience that he shared in his book, ‘The First Time.’ following four years. They were one of the first youth steelband in this competition competing against the adults. Although they never won, they were never last. Their appearance at the competition set a trend as a lot of other youth steelbands follow their initiative.

1983 was an iconic year for Anthony when he joined the Ebony Steelband at the age of 13. It was a long awaited moment and one he saw as an important step in his musical journey. During 1983 – 2005, he played with Ebony full time, gigging and touring worldwide.

Anthony’s musical quest saw him act in the role of Events Manager and Public Relations Officer for the London Brotherhood of Steel during the period 1998 to 2000. He also taught the art of playing in the steelpan instrument in various schools across London during 1995 – 2005. His tutorship saw many young people join established steelbands.

Anthony “DPAN’ Francis first began learning to play the steel pan instrument at age nine. After attending the Notting Hill carnival with his mother at the tender age of five, where he first saw and heard his father’s Steelband the ‘Ebony Steelband’ play and from that day onwards, he was totally captivated and mesmerised by the beautiful sounds of the instrument and the culture of Trinidad and Tobago, and so began his lifelong musical journey of playing, teaching, arranging and producing music with the only instrument to be invented in the 20th century, the Steel Pan. This is his first book of many to be written about his love for the steelband and its culture.

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He started arranging music in 1986, without any kind of formal training, solely by ear, I had a natural ability to arrange, without being taught how to do so, the first song I put down for the band was a tune called ‘Pan Progress’ written by the great, Dr. Len ‘Boogsie’ Sharpe, for ‘Phase II Pan Groove’ in that same year.

During 1991 – 1994, Anthony became the Project Director of the Ebony Steelband Trust, responsible for setting up and facilitating steelband classes, workshops and 1 to 1 one 2 sessions with young, old, abled and people with disabilities, spreading the steelpan culture all over the U.K.

Anthony formed his own youth steelband called Ebonique in 1995 with whom he entered the UK National Steelband Panorama competition for the

In 2006, he stopped playing with Ebony steelband and teaching in schools to focus on his own family and his music productions. This is when his concept, ‘Highly Dangerouz Productions’ was born. He performed with Asheber and the African Revolution Band in 2007 and started producing music and the concept for ‘Outta Da Box’ the album in 2009. He part launched Outta Da Box in 2012, with a few videos via You Tube. Anthony taught a branch of Ebony Steelband based in east London, called ‘Ebony East Steelband Academy during 2013 – 2015.

Anthony was very emotional, when he stated that he had played in every UK National Steelband Panorama competition during 1984 – 2015 except for 2006. He also played in nine UK Steelband Music Festivals, two World Steelband Music Festivals and 0ne World International Panorama with the Ebony Steelband.

Panpodium applauds this driven and exceptionally talented musician for his musical achievements to date and look forward to his future contributions.