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BIOGRAPHY: |
David "Ziggy" Walcott |
 David Walcott has been described by one critic as a remarkable musician who plays with great sensitivity, virtuoso technique and full command of the challenging instrument – the steel pan.
At the tender age of 13, ‘Ziggy” as he is affectionately called, began playing with the Pan Revolution Steel Orchestra, and later became the arranger and Musical Director for the group. However, David’s first taste of the big Pan stage came in 1995, when he performed on the Panorama stage with the Neal and Massey Trinidad All Stars. Four years later, he exploded onto the Barbadian music scene, when he accompanied local calypsonian “Adonijah” on the popular composition “Tenor Pan”, throughout the Crop Over festival. This rising Barbadian star achieved further success that same year when his arrangement of the Kitchener Classic “Pan in A Minor”, performed by Pan Revolution Steel Orchestra, was awarded Gold at the Barbados National Independence Festival of Creative Arts (NIFCA). |
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David is one of a few local and regional artistes, who use the steel pan as his mainstream instrument with unrivalled versatility. He plays mostly up tempo music genres including calypso, traditional jazz and classic R & B music of the 70s and 80s. A tenor pannist, he has performed with many popular Barbadian and international musicians and calypsonians including Andy Narrell, Raf Robertson, AJA and Boo Hinkson. He has also appeared on several pan shows namely, “Calypso in Steel” in 1999 with Amoco Renegades and the Barbados Pan Festival in 2001, 2002 and 2003 with Pan Revolution Steel orchestra, Neal and Massey Trinidad All Stars and Exodus respectively. David featured in the Holders Season in 2003 and 2004 accompanying artistes such as Zoe Rahman and Martin Taylor, as well as in the associated promotional performance in the UK entitled “Holders in London” in 2003. He has also performed and headlined at the Barbados Jazz Festival. He holds an Associate Degree in Music from the Barbados Community College and is currently completing a BA in Music from the University of the West Indies, St. Augustine Campus, Trinidad, with pan as his specialist instrument. As Director of the National Youth Steel Orchestra in Barbados, David is currently molding and grooming young, up and coming players in the rudiments of the steel pan, as they pursue their careers in music. |
David 'Ziggy' Walcott: What you didn’t know… |
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| Q: | Are you where you’ve always wanted to be in your musical career? |
| A: | No, I am not where I want to be but, I am almost there. |
| Q: | What are your biggest professional challenges? |
| A: | Getting time off my job to perform |
| Q: | Who is your favourite artiste(s) and why? |
| A: | Stevie Wonder. There is a lot of energy in his music. Each of his songs is different. He continues to be consistent yet still very creative. |
| Q: | What’s your favourite pastime? |
| A: | Being able to practice my instrument alone with no worries |
| Q: | What’s your favourite meal? |
| A: | Pasta |
| Q: | On Saturday nights where are you likely to be? |
| A: | At home with my son |
| Q: | What upsets you the most? |
| A: | Jealous musicians |
| Q: | What is your guiding philosophy? |
| A: | Keep focused and positive |
| Q: | What are some of your major accomplishments to date? |
| A: | Being invited to perform at the St. Lucia Jazz Festival, the Barbados Jazz Festival and my debut album |
| Q: | When you look to the future what do you see? |
| A: | I see myself being a household name throughout the world as an instrumentalist |
| Q: | Where did the nickname “Ziggy” come from? |
| A: | People began calling me “Ziggy” when I began playing steel pan and the name just stuck. I think it was because I am so energetic on the pan |
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