![\"Patrons](\"http:\/\/www.triniview.com\/imgs\/rafC0901165502.jpg\")
Patrons gather under the trees at Hotel Normandie for the Roots at Forty event<\/p><\/div>
\nOn Saturday 9th January, 2016, a huge gathering of loyal supporters of the band formerly known as Charlie\u2019s Roots and the Rapso band 3Canal joined Soca music giant, Pelham Goddard and Roots, in celebrating their fortieth anniversary in the music business. This event, themed \u201cRoots at Forty: Their Carnival Story\u201d was produced by JVMP (Junior, Vonrick, Malcolm, Pelham) Promotions in collaboration with Hotel Normandie. It was held Under the Trees at Hotel Normandie, St. Ann\u2019s Port of Spain, from 5:30 p.m. to 11 p.m. The artistes featured included David Michael Rudder, Roger George, 3Canal, Moricia Cagan and Nigel O\u2019Connor.<\/p>\n
![\"Members](\"http:\/\/www.triniview.com\/imgs\/rafC0901165483.jpg\")
Members of the Pelham Goddard and Roots band<\/p><\/div>
\nAccording to Goddard, this event was in the planning stages for the last two years and it was Junior Hudson who reminded them that the band will be forty this year: He remarked:<\/p>\n
“We started in 1976 with Roots as a band doing recordings and stuff. In 1977, we came out as a road band, launched with Peter Minshall (first band for 1978)\u2026 so with all of this in mind, we decided to have a big something this year to \u2019big up\u2019 the forty years. We brought the idea to Normandie. At first I spoke to Donna Chin Lee as her dad was out of the country at the time. She called him and [confirmed that] the date was available.\u201d<\/p>\n
Even with younger generation bands pulling the crowds today, Goddard remains confident that with a repertoire of timeless music, Roots can render the many musical hits accumulated over the years to continuously draw people to their group. Goddard also explained the reasoning behind the musical lineup featuring 3Canal and Roger George on this special occasion:<\/p>\n
\u201c3Canal was part of Minshall\u2019s band and they always enjoy playing with us. Roger George took over when Tambu left. Roger was a kind of a figure with us even though he was now starting. [He] started together with Machel, Nappy, Kurt Allen and all of those guys and we kind of groomed them at Roots. All of them used to be around Roots singing and we put them on the stage as young people, so when we asked Roger, he took up the offer too. We decided to put a good cast together and put it in a good venue which is Under the Trees, target a kind of crowd that used to follow Roots and who will remember and so on, and it worked.\u201d<\/p>\n
![\"Rapso](\"http:\/\/www.triniview.com\/imgs\/rafC0901165876.jpg\")
Rapso icons, 3Canal. Stanton Kewley, Wendell Manwarren and Roger Roberts<\/p><\/div>
\nHe continued:<\/p>\n
\u201cIf Maestro didn\u2019t die in 1977 Independence Day, he might have been our lead singer with the band because he started with us with \u2018Savage\u2019 in the studio \u2026 and Rose too. We got our first Road March through Rose with \u2018Going Down San Fernando\u2019. The opening part of our show will be on a Maestro theme and then we will journey out with \u2018The Journey\u2019. [Although] Tambu is not with the band again, Tambu\u2019s music up to today is still alive and kicking. So we\u2019ll do \u201cThe Journey\u201d and we have \u201cYes Darling\u201d, then we will do some Rose. We will mix it up, but all is Pelham Goddard and Roots music.\u201d<\/p>\n
Today Goddard is recognized as one of the best arrangers, producers and composers in the music industry. His arrangements have produced some of the most memorable hits by calypso and soca bards such as Cecil \u2018Maestro\u2019 Hume, MacArthur \u2018Calypso Rose\u2019 Lewis, Francine \u2018Singing Francine\u2019 Edwards, Austin \u2018Blue Boy\u2019 Lyons (now \u2018Superblue\u2019), David Michael Rudder and Christopher \u2018Tambu\u2019 Herbert.<\/p>\n
![\"Moricia](\"http:\/\/www.triniview.com\/imgs\/rafC0901165676.jpg\")
Moricia Cagan during her performance<\/p><\/div>
\nAt 7 p.m., the show started off with lead vocalist Moricia Cagan who came on stage with a burst of energy. Cagan, who is known for her powerful vocal range, masterfully delivered classic hit songs by Calypso Rose setting the tone for the evening. Her set included, \u201cAction is Tight\u201d, \u201cHer Majesty\u201d, \u201cHold, I Say\u201d, \u201cMore Tempo\u201d and \u201cCome leh we Jam\u201d. Nigel O’Connor, also frontline vocalist was next and kept the tempo going with Blue Boy\u2019s \u201cEthel\u201d and \u201cSoca Baptist\u201d and Tambu\u2019s \u201cJourney\u201d and \u201cYes Darling\u201d.<\/p>\n
![\"Roger](\"http:\/\/www.triniview.com\/imgs\/rafC0901166354.jpg\")
Roger George during his performance<\/p><\/div>
\nFollowing O\u2019Connor\u2019s performance were Rapso icons, Roger Roberts, Wendell Manwarren and Stanton Kewley, also known as 3Canal. They sang their hit songs, \u201cCarnival\u201d, \u201cGood News\u201d, \u201cGood Morning Neighbour\u201d, \u201cBlue\u201d and \u201cTalk Yuh Talk\u201d.<\/p>\n
Roger George soon followed belting out Road March hits by Christopher \u2018Tambu\u2019 Herbert which included, the 1988 classic \u201cThis Party Is It\u201d, the 1990 hit \u201cNo, No We Eh Going Home\u201d and the 1989 sensation \u201cFree up\u201d.<\/p>\n
![\"David](\"http:\/\/www.triniview.com\/imgs\/rafC0901166401.jpg\")
David Michael Rudder during his performance<\/p><\/div>
\nDavid Rudder closed the programme with a high-energy performance that began with \u201cPermission To Mash Up De Place\u201d followed by a slew of his past hits which included \u201cJump up\u201d, \u201cBahia Girl\u201d, \u201cHammer\u201d, \u201cCalypso Music\u201d, \u201cTrini Prance\u201d, \u201cDust in dey Face\u201d, \u201cPanama\u201d, \u201cBacchanal Lady\u201d and \u201cCalabash\u201d.<\/p>\n
![\"Patrons](\"http:\/\/www.triniview.com\/imgs\/rafC0901166520.jpg\")
Patrons enjoying the music at the Roots at Forty event<\/p><\/div>
\nRoots at Forty was professionally organized with top class music and a stellar cast of performances. It was indeed a nostalgic musical journey which was appreciated by those in attendance who were on their feet dancing, clapping and singing along throughout the show.<\/p>\n
Pelham Goddard and Roots:<\/p>\n
Moricia Cagan and Nigel O\u2019Connor – Vocals
\nPelham Goddard – Band leader \/ Arranger \/ Keyboards
\nMalcolm Boyce – Saxophone
\nVonrick Maynard – Drums
\nEman Ector \u2013 Base guitar
\nAlbert Busche – Base guitar
\nDevan Ochoe – Base guitar
\nSpicer – Trombone
\nMitch – Trumpet
\nVernon – Percussion \/ Congas<\/p>\n