Conservationist and musician, Atherton Martin along with Norris Prevost and others organized an event dubbed ‘The Man and the Instrument in honor of the late Wilfred ‘Pancho’ Jno.Baptiste. Martin said that when he learnt of Jno. Baptiste’s passing, he and the other organizers felt that something must be done to recognize and … the contribution of this great man.
Martin remembers Pancho as a man who freely gave so much of his time to the artform.
He said, “Pancho is someone who for so many years has given so much of his time freely to training young pan players and to promoting the artform and actually to sort of be an advocate and a defender of pan in Dominica. And so those of us who knew him and worked with him for decades…wanted to record a tribute to him…and find a way to pay public tribute to Pancho for all that he’s done and that his legacy and work lives on in those young people. And so we wanted to let him know and let his family know most importantly that we do appreciate him and say a big thank you to him for being here with us for as long as he was”.
Meanwhile, Chief Cultural Officer, Raymond Lawrence also testified to the impact Pancho had on Pan. He said that the Cultural Division recognized Jno.baptiste with a Special Recognition Award in 1998, the Golden Drum Award in 2003 and the Lifetime Achievement Award in 2020. He remembers Pancho as ‘a pillar of culture, great father, husband and friend with a kind and warm personality; a hardworking man’.
Wilfred ‘Pancho’ Jno.baptiste was a former member of DSpecial Steel Orchestra, Roseau Improvement Committee Steel Pan and Phase Five. He is known for having taught Pan to numerous individuals and also at schools around the island.
Tributes also poured in from former students including noted Calypso write Ian Jackson.
Wilfred ‘Pancho’ Jno.baptiste passed away on Tuesday 19, January, 2021.
