Pelham Goddard: The Man Who Helped Build Soca | Corie Sheppard Podcast

Pelham Goddard — legendary arranger, composer, and bandleader — sits down with Corie Sheppard-Babb for a deep dive into five decades of Trinidad and Tobago’s musical evolution. From his early days in St. James panyards to arranging for Charlie’s Roots, David Rudder, and SuperBlue, Pelham shares untold stories behind timeless anthems like “Sugar Bum Bum,” “Woman on the Bass,” “Soca Baptist,” and “Engine Room.” He breaks down the art of live band recording — when “one take” meant the whole band — and explains how reading music revolutionised the steelpan. Pelham also contrasts the rich compositions of the past with today’s “fast food” approach to production, reminding us why rhythm, melody, and harmony must all work together. This episode is a rare masterclass in Caribbean music history, full of cultural insight, philosophy, and firsthand accounts of working alongside icons like Lord Kitchener, Clive Bradley, and Art De Coteau. 🎧 Listen now to discover how the sound of soca was built — one groove at a time. 👉 Click the link in my bio for the full episode. #coriesheppardpodcast #PelhamGoddard #CharliesRoots #DavidRudder #SuperBlue #CalypsoMusic #SocaHistory #Steelpan #TrinidadAndTobago #caribbeanculture 00:00 Intro 01:13 Returning Home for Music & Pan 02:12 Exodus Pan School & Teaching Youths 04:43 How Reading Music Changed Pan Forever 07:22 Art De Coteau & The One-Take Studio Era 11:46 Recording “Rain O Rama” Live 16:42 Learning Music Through Berklee 22:26 The Story Behind “Sugar Bum Bum” 24:18 The Solo on “Woman on the Bass” 29:31 Why Today’s Music Feels Different 32:02 “Music Needs Space to Breathe” 35:22 How “Engine Room” Was Created 39:37 Maestro & The Evolution of Soca 42:00 The Calypso Rose “Tempo” Story 48:50 David Rudder, “Panama” & Charlie’s Roots 52:53 SuperBlue Before He Was Super Blue 55:15 The Story Behind “Soca Baptist” 01:00:48 How “Soca Baptist” Became a Road March 01:06:05 Why Pelham Misses Live Bands 01:09:24 Teaching the Next Generation 01:13:34 The Making of “Rebecca” 01:15:25 “Engine Room” & Real Iron Men 01:17:50 Making Music for the People First 01:24:06 Panorama, Defosto & “War” 01:26:22 What Pelham Is Working On Today 01:28:10 Closing Thoughts