Died January 1988, Port of Spain, Trinidad and Tobago | ||
George "Sonny" Goddard (28 April 1924 – January 1988) was a steelpan enthusiast and President of the Steelband Association. George Goddard is still recognised for his work with the steelpan.
Person
George Goddard was born and raised in New Town, a district of Port of Spain, Trinidad. He pursued his goal to reform the steelband movement with a strong passion. Spending several decades at the task, he then documented his hard effort in a book entitled Forty Years in the Steelbands 1939 to 1979. He proved himself to be a very persistent man by fighting many battles against the government and even losing his job for doing do. Goddard was a former president of the Steelband Association, fighting for the steelpan to be seen as a respectable, non-threatening instrument around the world and they have a powerful yet democratic group of people. He was chairman of the Association from 1957 to 1971, in which role he met important figures such as Elizabeth Bowes-Lyon. His work with the steelpan greatly influenced his sons, leading them to be just as passionate in the pan as he was.