Cultural archivist/researcher Edward “Teddy” Pinheiro is probably one of the best kept secrets in T&T as far as his vast knowledge and collection of Carnival and calypso material are concerned. His interest in information and tangible items related to calypso, Carnival and “combo” music, dates back to his time in New York in the mid-1960s. At that time, during his return visits to Trinidad, he realised that the radio station which would either record or broadcast from the calypso tents was not storing them. This was what really propelled him to purchase equipment to start taping and documenting the recordings, a couple of times at the tents but mainly off the radio. Thanks to him, many calypsoes that were not commercially recorded are available in his extensive archive…a labour of love for our culture indeed. Also instructive is that during his stay in New York, he started to visit off-the-beaten-track record shops where much to his surprise there were many records/LPs and 45s (long playing vinyl records/albums and their smaller version for the uninitiated) that were intended for the American audience.
During his return visits here during the Christmas and Carnival seasons he did the same, going to the record stores and seeking out records and other material available. On his return to live here the work continued, and before he knew it the collection was growing by leaps and bounds. Over the years, he has also collected many live recordings of the dance bands including the combos of the 1960s which is still one of the main areas of interest to him. The Dimanche Gras of 1972 (the Calypso King/Monarch segment) started him off in another area of preservation which went on to 1981. This was all audio. The year 1982 was the start of video recordings of the Carnival events, which he has continued recording to the present time. Sadly, many of these VHS tapes have deteriorated, but hopefully they can be somehow restored. Using the guts of a VHS tape rewinder he has developed a device that helps in salvaging these shows while he awaits, after many frustrating attempts, to have the authorities acquire his collection for long-term archiving.
The entire collection is made up of LPs, 45s, cassettes, open reel tapes, newspaper articles of Carnival results, Carnival books and features, catalogues of recordings of Sa Gomes, Kay, Cook, Telco, Vitadisc, etc. He has become one of the go-to fountains of knowledge, enhancing the content of many programmes that feature calypso music over the years, such as Winston Maynard’s Bring Your Music and Come and Calypso Carats, and a programme of 1960s dance band (combo) music on Radio Trinbago with Andre Williams. Several programmes at UTT with the Mighty Chalkdust featuring many of our great calypsonians have accessed his collection.
He has written several letters to the newspapers, especially when wrong data is featured in any articles or books. One was about who actually arranged the national anthem. Tuco and many others find him a useful resource person for hard-to-find music and information. Many times, too, requests for information have come from overseas. In 2011, Pinheiro was presented with a Sunshine Award for his work, the Friends of the Arts Award for his in-depth study and research of the various art forms. Pinheiro says, “At the moment I’m preparing to sell the collection. At my age, 74, it has become too much for me to handle. Another reason is that none of my children are really interested in having it.”
Q: You have been described as a human library of calypso and Carnival. How would you describe this to our readers?
A: Somehow I retain what I’ve read, heard and saw, even though I’m starting to forget on the spur of the moment replies quite a bit now. The more that is retained, the more bits and pieces can be put together to refer to a new project.
Who were the people who have influenced you the most in what you do and in life in general, and how did they?
My father had a very large collection of records of many genres which I enjoyed from very small. For many years after he died many were retained by me until they were discarded during my time overseas. He seems to be my inspiration to collect things.
What inspires you to do what you do?
Someone has to preserve the music of the land and to be able to speak of the people who are connected to it. Sharing music, in whatever form, without speaking about the creators is only doing half the job.
Where were you born, and where did you grow up?
Belmont is my birth place, but it was Tunapuna with all its cultural identities which gave me part of which I was to become.
At which schools/institutions did you receive your education?
Tunapuna EC School, then to Osmond High School. Most else was self-taught….to use the old University of Me.
Of all your accolades, accomplishments, prizes and awards which do you rate as extremely special?
The Sunshine Award is very special since I didn’t work towards it. Someone saw and appreciated what work was being done and decided to reward me for it. Very much unlike the trophies which were won for Carnival skills in competitions. The other is creating Dr Tah Tah Rides Again, the first puppet ever in the King Of Carnival competition, Dimanche Gras 1980.
If you were able to interview people in the Carnival and calypso arena, both past and present, who would they be and what would you ask them?
In calypso, Spoiler and Maestro. My question to Spoiler would be, where did he get the very special ideas and lyrics for his calypsoes, and which was his very favourite?
To Maestro, I would ask, did he set out to compose Mr Trinidad, To Sir with Love and You’re Foolin’ as a trilogy, or did one naturally follow the other?
Diamond Jim Hardin would be asked, did he realise that he had created Trinidad’s only indigenous Carnival character when he created his long-nose sailor that led to the Fancy Sailor so many years ago?
To George Bailey, did you realise, having been put out of Invaders Steelband for not wanting to pay a band fee, that you would become one of the premier bandleaders of a bygone era?
What would you say to those charged with the administration of the various bodies of our cultural art forms?
Forget self and have people who really know about the various cultural forms advise and document for later generations all that’s being done. Designate a readily available space where researchers could work at ease. Also set about getting our history right. Many mistakes come from the media, which perpetuate them over and over. For example, let’s not refer to the three ships on the coat of arms as the Nina, The Pinta and the Santa Maria. By the time Columbus reached here, on his third voyage, the last-mentioned had run aground off Haiti, the lumber being used to help build a fort on the island. But this is a long story for another time.
What would become of all the information that you possess, both tangible and intangible?
I’ve written several pieces for the dailies most of which were published, and I hope they will continue to do so. There are several on stream: one on the Sel Duncan story, the abusive calypsoes that were recorded by Houdini in the USA on our local calypsonians, a commentary on Cook’s J’Ouvert LP and my recollections of Tunapuna as a young man. A lot will be passed on together with the collection. I do have some very dear friends who will appreciate having what is available on or close to my transition.
What was the most difficult decision you ever had to make?
To return home to live, give up my green card, and face the future here. Andre Tanker’s Ah Come Back Home was the inspiration, that and several talks I had with him.
What daily motto/credo do you live by?
Thy will be done.
How would you describe yourself in three words, one beginning with E, T, and P, your initials?
Efficient, Truthful, Positive.
What is/are the most important lesson/s you’ve learned in life?
The universal law of karma.
What advice would you give to the young people of T&T?
Learn as much as you can in as many spheres as possible, then excel in that which you enjoy doing the most. Everything learned is always valuable.
How can our readers contact you? thecurator27@yahoo.com