MS Steel Drum Band
MS Steel Drum Band is a high-energy
performance group that specializes in blending Caribbean
instruments
and rhythms with
American popular music. Our group features the unique
instrumentation of steel drums, guitar, bass, and drumset.
The band was formed as a spin off from the California
State University Northridge sixty-five member Steel
Drum Band at the end of the Spring 2002 semester.
Our
repertoire includes songs made known by Bob Marley,
Santana, The Beatles, Marvin Gaye, and Barry White, as
well as European classical music, jazz standards, and
traditional melodies from the islands. Aside from merely
entertaining ourselves and others with this music,
we
hope to introduce a new generation to the sounds of
the Caribbean via the use of songs that most American’s
can recognize.
Group Bios
Melanie “Rogue” DuPré serves as bandleader,
bass player, and primary arranger for Metro Steel. She
graduated summa cum laude from the Music Industry Studies
program at Cal State Northridge last semester. Last fall
Melanie began her second season as a contrabass player
for the Pasadena Community Orchestra and this past January
she was invited to become the regular bass player for
the Bach to Beethoven Chamber Orchestra. Aside from playing
bass, she is very active in recording engineering projects
and she holds a full time position as Senior Production
Supervisor at the non-profit organization, Recording
for the Blind & Dyslexic.
Percussionist, Andrew “Scooby Drew” Enns,
is a native of Reedly, CA. He was an active player in
various bands throughout his four years of high school
playing with school bands and on his own. He graduated
in 2000 and moved to the San Fernando Valley where he
is currently a student at Cal State Northridge majoring
in Music Industry with an emphasis in percussion and
drums. Today, he is the drummer for Metro Steel as well
as a regular player in other groups outside of school.
Andrew also holds a part time job at Alfred Music Publishing.
Joel "Monkey" Mankey grew up in Central Thousand
Oaks, CA and is now a Media Composition major at Cal
State Northridge. He is proficient on many instruments
from Steel Drums to Electric Bass, from Flute to French
Horn. He has been a member of the CSUN Steel Band since
2000 and he plays the double seconds pans for Metro Steel.
His performance credits include playing on the soundtrack
for the hit T.V. show 'Survivor', the Tournament of Roses
Parade, and the Cable Ace Awards. His commitment to world
music led him to found the CSUN Japanese Taiko Drumming
Ensemble, which he currently directs. In addition to
being a gifted musician, Joel is also a talented visual
artist. He is especially interested in animé,
web design, and videography. He currently works part
time as Production Supervisor at Recording for the Blind & Dyslexic.
Chris “Downriser” Newlin of North Hollywood
is the electric guitarist for Metro Steel. He is currently
a senior at CSUN and is working towards a BA in Music
Industry Studies. Chris has been playing electric guitar
since the age of 10 and he continues to play regularly
in several bands in the Los Angeles area. Chris also
enjoys going on tour with various projects and recently
performed at the Blaisdale Arena in Hawaii. Chris also
holds a part time job at Sound Arena Studios.
Nayla “Nebula” Saoud hails from the West
San Fernando Valley, CA. She is currently a senior in
the Music Industry Studies program at Cal State Northridge.
Nayla began singing in church at the precocious age of
5 and continued performing in school choirs. She has
been working with a private voice coach for the past
three years and has ten years of piano lessons under
her belt. She joined the CSUN Steel Drum Band during
her freshman year at CSUN as a tenor bass pan player
and has been playing ever since. Nayla began playing
tenor pan in 2002 and has been a member of Metro Steel
since it’s inception. Although she isn't quite
sure of what she wants to pursue after college, she is
seriously considering a career as a professional concert
promoter. Nayla is currently employed at Alan Ett Music
Group.
--Sample Repertoire Listing--
All the Things
You Are – jazz standard
Ave Maria – Classical
Bei Mir – Mambo (has Jewish roots, cool tune)
Black Orpheus – jazz/bossa nova
Blue Bossa– jazz/bossa nova
Calypso Jazz – island groove tune
Chameleon – jazz funk tune
Cryin – ‘dark’ island tune (minor key)
Days of Wine & Roses – jazz standard
El Mar – upbeat cha cha
Footprints – jazz standard, groove tune
Get Up, Stand Up – Bob Marley tune
The Girl From Ipanema – jazz/bossa nova
Hot, Hot, Hot – fun calypso
How High the Moon – jazz swing standard
I Heard it Through the Grapevine – Motown
Limbo Rock – only played for limbo contests
Love’s Theme – Barry White tune
Magical Sound Shower – jazzy bossa style tune (from the video
game Outrun)
Meditation – jazz/bossa nova
Mary Ann – another fun calypso
Oye Como Va – rockin’ Santana tune
Philmore’s Dream – strange island jam
Star Wars – silly waltz version of movie theme
Stir it Up – Bob Marley tune
Three Little Birds – Bob Marley tune
Watermelon Man – funky Herbie Hancock tune
Yellow Bird – traditional Haitian melody
Yesterday – Beatles song done reggae style
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