Students dance to steel drum beat

The Trinidad Tripoli Steelband has played for people such as President George H.W. Bush and President Bill Clinton, and now ISU.

The band came to ISU as a part of International Education Week. "The Diversity Committee wanted to take on something larger scale for International Education Week," said Michael Sales, graduate student in the student affairs and higher education program. "In years past we've done smaller events like an International Jeopardy game. We wanted to do something with some cultural flavor, but also had to think about what students would be interested in coming to. We were contacted by the band in late September, and it just seemed to be a good fit."

The band's music caused people to get up out of their seats and dance.

"Oh my goodness," said Khrista Beliles, a sophomore early education and special education major. "It was so fun to bust a move to."

People came by twos and threes, dancing with friends and singing along with the band.

"My favorite part was the music, and bustin' a move with my friend K.B.," said Elizabeth Hicks, a sophomore physical education major and health education major.

"They bring diversity to the campus, and they are very different to ISU," said Brittany Baird, a sophomore business administration major and diversity community chair.

The Trinidad Tripoli Steelband was discovered by Liberace, the world famous pianist, in Montréal, Canada. The band was named after "the shores of Tripoli" from the U.S. Marine Corps hymn, was the first steelband to play in the United States on campuses in 1969. With Liberace at their side, the band went on to win a Grammy in 1972.

"We have done every major television show, from 'The Johnny Carson Show' to 'The Merv Griffin Show'," said Hugh Borde, director of the Trinidad Tripoli Steelband. "We've played at Carnegie Hall, at Radio City Music Hall, in Las Vegas, Nevada at Cesar's Palace and the Hilton Hotel."

The Trinidad Tripoli Steelband has received awards such as the Golden Medal of Merit from president Ronald Reagan in 1986 for developing the steelband trend in the U.S.

The Trinidad Tripoli Steelband has played at more than 500 colleges and universities, including many in Indiana.

"Playing for colleges is our main source of income, since we do that so often," Borde said.

The band brought four players to perform for ISU. Borde played tenor drum, Norris George played the double alto drum, Carlton Borde played bass and Walter Barbee played keyboard. When in Trinidad, the band has more than 400 steeldrum players.

Some of the songs that the band played were cover songs of other bands, which the students recognized and even sang along with.

"I really enjoyed it when they played songs that everyone knew and the conga line," said Christina McCurrey, a sophomore art major.

( Abby Reed is a freshman chemistry major. She can be reached at sascamed@isugw.indstate.edu.)