(Trinidad Express) “D Pan Man” has done it.
Pannist Joshua Regrello yesterday completed playing the pan for 31 hours straight in his attempt to establish a Guinness World Record for performing on the national instrument.
“The unity of the country was felt,” he said.
In describing the feat, Regrello, 27, said, “It’s bigger than me, it’s bigger than steelpan, it’s for the whole country,” he told reporters at Wack Radio 90.1 FM on Coffee Street, San Fernando, where he had performed.
He then launched into playing T&T’s national anthem.
The original time he gave to set the Guinness World Record to become the world’s longest marathon-playing pan artiste was 30 hours.
But Regrello continued playing for another hour.
While he awaits feedback from officials at the international organisation, an admittedly tired Regrello told reporters it is more than achieving the record.
“This is about showing people what can be done with pan, and not just pan. There is this misconception that you can’t have a career in the arts, you can’t have a career in music, and I think you just have to be innovative,” Regrello said.
Being innovative was also his message to those inside and outside the music industry.
“You can accomplish so much. One thing with steelpan, we have not touched what is capable of it and I mean that there are so many things that we can do that we just haven’t thought about. Just be innovative,” he emphasised.
Regrello started playing around 6.28 a.m. on Friday.
Over the 31 hours, members of his team, including family members, wiped his face and fed him sandwiches of bread, turkey and ham.
He also drank water and energy drinks.
While he was allowed to take a five-minute break for every hour of continuous playing, he said some moments were a blur due to fatigue.
Regrello, who played for 17 hours straight at one point, believes he could have played more than 31 hours, and for up to 35 hours.
Upon reaching the 30-hour mark yesterday, there were tears by some as Regrello played David Rudder’s “High Mas”.
The performer said he never doubted that he could achieve the feat as, in the past, he has had five- and six-hour high-energy performances at his concerts.
He told reporters he had no particular plans after leaving the studio on Coffee Street.
Cheers for Joshua
Dozens of people gathered outside the radio station as the hours wound down to him reaching the record attempt at 1.28 p.m.
They cheered, danced and waved national flags as the time ticked on.
When he later walked outside, they chanted his name.
Regrello thanked everyone, including those viewing from the beginning, via social media.
The entire event was recorded to be viewed by Guinness officials, and Regrello thanked the independent witnesses who included timekeepers from the Trinidad and Tobago Football Association and representatives from the Ministry of Tourism, Culture and the Arts, the T&T Fire Service and the T&T Police Service.
He was also in high praise of all the artistes who performed alongside him. They included Muhammed Muwakil from Freetown Collective, Aaron “Voice” St Louis, Akeem “Preddie” Chance, Jesse “College Boy Jesse” Stewart and Devon “Dev” Harris.
He was accompanied from 5 a.m. yesterday by violinist Darion “Mr Strings” Dennis.
He further thanked mike men Jordan “Ultra Simmo” Simmons and Bam. There were several giveaways and dozens of people tried to view the performance from inside the studio, but many had to be ushered out after fire officials threatened to shut down the event should they remain.
Minister of Tourism Randall Mitchell, who congratulated Regrello while at the studio, said he made the country proud.
He told Regrello he was made of perseverance, grit, endurance and discipline, which he described as “all of the positive attributes that every Trinbagonian should identify with”.
In a release, Pan Trinbago, under its leader Beverley Ramsey-Moore, extended congratulations to Regrello for the longest marathon playing pan, and the longest marathon playing a chrome musical instrument.
“Joshua’s passion, resilience and unyielding determination are an inspiration to all. This is not just a win for Joshua but a triumph for our culture, our heritage and our global steelpan family.
“In this transformational year for the steelpan, his achievement solidifies our instrument’s status as a beacon of creativity and excellence,” the release said.
Regrello’s father, head of TCL Skiffle Bunch Junia Regrello, said the instrument and pannists will benefit from his son’s accomplishment.
He added, “I think it is a major achievement putting the pan on the map, giving it the kind of recognition it deserves, especially the kind of success we have had this year with the United Nations declaration, the pan being the declared the national instrument. This is probably the best way to put the icing on the cake to end the year on a very positive note…
“In light of some of the challenges we have with murders and unfortunate accidents where people are losing their lives, this is a positive for us.”
Speaking about his son, the former San Fernando mayor said, “The Joshua I know, as a father, Joshua will not have done the act for himself but for the entire pan movement and the promotion of the instrument…Most people saw this as not Joshua, but Trinidad and Tobago.”
The senior Regrello added that it was appropriate that his son had achieved the feat on Coffee Street, as he used to come to a panyard, a short distance away, after school and wait for him.
“That’s where he had his exposure to pan for this to happen, on Coffee which is the heart, the pulse of San Fernando. I think this is important and critical and most significant, it happened here on the Coffee—this where he started his pan career.”
Principal at Regrello’s alma mater, Naparima College, Roger Ali congratulated Regrello as he noted students at the school had Panorama practice the night before at Skiffle Bunch Panyard, and some of them were yesterday present to lend their support.
Also, former principal at the school and United National Congress candidate for San Fernando West Dr Michael Dowlath said Regrello’s dedication and passion for music embodied the excellence and determination fostered at the school.
In a social media post, past pupil Daren Dhoray said Regrello had gifted the country with a moment of “unadulterated pride and joy”.
He added: “Joshua has proven that even in the darkest of times, the light of our culture and determination can shine through…For over 30 hours, he played not just for himself but for a nation longing for moments of hope and happiness.”
Chairman of the National Carnival Commission (NCC) Winston “Gypsy” Peters, Minister of Agriculture Kazim Hosein, former councillors and former minister Joan Yuille-Williams were also among those in attendance.