Checking in with Dr. B.
Checking in with Dr. B.
Turn Back Lose! Michael Kernahan is Checking in with Dr. B
Michael G Kernahan was born in 1947 in Palo Seco Trinidad and Tobago. He moved from Palo Seco to Manzanilla and later to St. James in the north of the island of Trinidad. In St. James, Michael joined the famous Tripoli Steel Orchestra, later touring with them through the Caribbean and to Expo ‘67 in Montreal, Canada. The orchestra performed with success returning the next year to perform at the 1968 “Man and his World”. Liberace, the late world famous pianist, heard the orchestra and contracted them to tour with him. After the Liberace tour, Michael and the orchestra continued to tour and gather accolades across the United States including being nominated for a Grammy record under Warner Brothers, “The Esso Trinidad Steelband”. On the orchestra’s return to Trinidad, Michael continued performing with the band, utilizing his technical and artistic talents with the country’s top artists and delving into the art of steelpan making and tuning. Later Michael and a few of the members of Tripoli returned to the United States and eventually became the “21st Century Steelband” based in Michigan and later in Miami, again receiving standing ovations at all their performances. Michael Kernahan taking the role of captain, tuner, arranger and performer.
Michael Kernahan has won kudos across the world for the beautiful sound produced by his instruments. He is in demand to build and tune steel pans for groups across the United States and the Caribbean. He received a Florida Folk Heritage Award in 2005 and continues to share his art, talent and music with the world.
https://exchange.prx.org/pieces/217488?m=false
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Vc1TfaXMlPI
https://www.npr.org/2005/03/04/3042000/liberace-the-trinidad-tripoli-steelband
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