Mr. Pelham Goddard - Honoree 2005

On Friday 27th May We Beat 2005 will be officially opened with a ceremony dubbed "DEDICATION". For this our 5th Anniversary, we will be honoring none other than Mr. Pelham "Peegee" Goddard.

Pelham is well known in the world of Soca and Pan as one of the Caribbean's leading musical arrangers and keyboardists. Fondly referred to as "Peegee", Goddard has been an important presence on the evolution of Soca music for more than three decades. A regular performer, with his band Charlie's Roots, at the annual carnival in Trinidad, Goddard has made a lasting impact as a songwriter, arranger and producer.

Playing piano from the age of nine, Goddard learned to read music via a correspondence course from the Berklee College of Music in Boston. Launching his professional career, in 1967, as organist for the Peter De Vlugt Orchestra. He joined and played with the Starlift Steel Orchestra the following year.

In 1972 Goddard was invited by Clive Bradley, to work with Esquires Orchestra while he, Bradley prepared WITCO Desperadoes for the annual panorama, as was for a short period of time, an apprentice to the great producer and recording studio owner.

In 1976, Goddard formed his own group, "Charlies Roots", as a studio band for K.H. Studios, and began producings hits for the likes of Calypso Rose and Super Blue. It was as the then "Blue Boy's" prime arranger that we saw Super emerge as King of the road during the eighties and nineties, winning more road marches than any other arranger.

It was also under his leadership that we saw Soca Star "David Rudder" thrust into the limelight with hit songs, such as "The Hammer", "Bahia Girl", "Dedication", "Calypso Music", "Dust In Yuh Face", "Savannah Party", "Jungle Fever", "Kalalloo", and "Calabash". Pelham has produced and arranged hit recordings by other West Indian artists such as Super Blue, Chris 'Tambu' Herbert, Sugar Aloes, Calypso Rose and Singing Francine.

After his stint with Starlift, Pelham dabbled in steelband arranging in the 70's with National Lottery Third World, producing the ever popular "Gold" by Maestro, and because of his reputation, Exodus Steel orchestra invited him to become their arranger. Since he became their musical arranger, Exodus has become a multi Panorama winner, and a regular on Panorama Final night.

In addition to these many accomplishments, Peegee continues to record at his own Agra 9 Studio and perform with his group of accomplished musicians.

It is for these reasons that Pelham Goddard will be honored on this night as we launch WeBeat 2005.