Salah & Family Steelpans

Professional musician(s) at work, hospitable and sociable communications with host and guests.

Salah Wilson (Anthony Wilson), having been exposed to his village and family steelband group, Flamingoes from 1967 to 1973 in Trinidad and Tobago, migrated that year to Canada with his wife Adiylah and steelpan. He formed two steelpan groups in the first decade "Pan Vibes Exhibits" with Jimi Phillip and "Galaxy Vocal Steelband" with singer Junior Byron. The second decade saw the first buskin on the streets and subways of Canada in 1984 by Salah. Then, an introduction to steelpan programs in the Caribbean communities of Montreal in (phone number hidden)8. Salah put together his family group around this time "Salah & Family Steelpan Workshop". This was followed by the establishing of pan programs in the public schools of Montreal from 1991. The programs continue to this present day with one of his daughters, Fatima, and grandson Rashiyd carrying on the tradition. Next was the creation of outlets for the schools and community groups. Salah established a summer steelpan festival the "Pan Jamboree" from 1991 and a winter steelpan festival "Classics to Calypso".
From 1994 Salah & family began an annual trip to Toronto to participate in the Carnival activities winning the first panorama competition in Toronto, Canada in 1995. That same year 1995, the family produced its first album entitled “Good Feelings” by Salah & Family Steelpan Workshop. From 2001 Salah established a new festival and concept the "Montreal International Steelpan Festival" which included a panorama competition. Later with his school "Salah's Steelpan Academy" they would continue to win eight panorama championships in Montreal from (phone number hidden)0 and four consecutive panorama competitions in Toronto's Pan Alive (phone number hidden)0. Having done his bachelor's degree in 1995 at Concordia using his pans as his principal instrument. Salah began teaching steelpan programs at the Toronto District School Board from (phone number hidden)0. Since 2010, Salah has lent his support to the village steelband Flamingoes in Trinidad and continues to this present day. In addition, Salah has participated with various bands in Trinidad including the following: “Pandemonium” with arranger Ray Holman (1975); “Desperadoes” panorama winners with arranger Clive Bradley & leader/tuner/manager Rudolph Charles (1983), (participated again in1984); “Exodus”, repeated panorama winners with arranger Pelham Goddard (1992), (2001), (2003), (2004); “Starlift” with arranger Liam Teague (2012); Starlift” with arranger Robert Greenidge (2017). Salah has written a steelpan textbook "Steelpan Playing With Theory", which has been used in the public schools of Trinidad & Tobago since 2005. It has been revised and updated in 2021, to include a historic content of steelpan activities. In addition, a teacher's handbook and supplement to this textbook entitled "The Steelpan Teacher's Manual" is now a part of this educational package ((link hidden)). Salah Wilson & Family continue to promote steelpan development in Canada, Trinidad & Tobago and the Caribbean. Salah has performed with his steelpan in many Caribbean islands, many provinces of Canada, New York City and Hong Kong, China.
Salah completed his education from 2012 to 2020 at York university in Toronto graduating with a master's in musicology 2014 and a PhD in ethnomusicology 2020.
.