STEEL PAN genius Roy Geddes, AA, and his Queen Pamela, this year celebrated a special Valentine. The loving couple last week celebrated Valentine as man and wife of 50 years. What an achievement! And no doubt all the fans of the now defunct Roy Geddes Silvertones Steel Orchestra, as well as family and friends, are very happy for this husband and wife team, who over the decades blended their love for each other with sweet pan music.

Internationally, the romantic annual Valentine Day celebrations are usually related to the young. But for many long-married couples and the young at heart, such as Roy and Pamela Geddes, Valentine love is so much sweeter; like cured wine. The relationship of Roy and Pamela which goes back for over half a century, is a special mixture of romance and business, and of course, pan music.
Over the decades, when the Roy Geddes Silvertones Steel Orchestra ruled the musical world here in Guyana, Pamela Geddes served as the unofficial Secretary-General, CEO and President. She was the queen, and all members of that talented and very revered Guyanese musical organization, loved and respected her as she worked to ensure that there was never a ‘sour note’ in the daily and weekly activities of the steel orchestra. And certainly not a sour note in the love she and her husband shared.

Pamela Geddes ensured that she shared her husband’s vision and objective for pan music, which was, “the commercialization and the respectability of the Steelband art form.” Over the decades, I have seen the Roy Geddes Silvertones Steel Orchestra at a wide range of events; Panorama, fairs, receptions and other events, and always – always playing the best of music suitable for the event. The Silvertones possessed a very wide range of musical genres.

At receptions the orchestra would play softly so that conversations by guests were easily exchanged while they still enjoyed the background music. The selections played were always appropriate; and the players always adding their vocals to embellish the entertainment. Players were always appropriately dressed for the occasion. And always – always – the epitome of discipline.

Behind it all were two lovers – man and wife; Roy and Pamela Geddes – who over the years, supported each other as they ensured that sweet pan music was always part of their lives. And like the wide variety of music played by the Silvertones – folk, jazz, funk, reggae, Indian, rock-n-roll, Latin, gospel, calypso, classical and others – there was always variety in the romance of Roy and Pamela.

Since the dissolving of the Silvertones Steel Orchestra, Roy and Pamela Geddes have established a Pan Museum – most likely the only such museum on the planet. It is located at their extremely decorated home at 190 Roxanne Burnham Gardens in south Georgetown, just off Mandela Avenue. They can also be contacted by phone; 226-9844. The Roy Geddes Pan Museum is visited my many who are interested in learning more about Pan Music; and they include Guyanese and non-Guyanese alike.

On Valentine Day 2017, as Roy Geddes, AA, and his dear wife Pamela continued to celebrate their 50th wedding anniversary, they remained a shining example that Valentine Day is not only for young unmarried couples, but also those whose love has stood the test of time for 50 loving years; especially when pan music has been serenading them daily.