COURTNEY LEIBA
Born on December 19th, in Flanagin Town, Trinidad,
Courtney Leiba was an only child from a racially mixed
background( a mixture of Negro, Venezuelan, Chinese,
Irish and Portuguese.)
In his home district most
people made their living growing crops of cocoa and
coffee. He was a typical country boy and at one time
both his parents families had plantations. He learnt
the art of picking and cleaning crops.
His
initial
involvment with music began when he formed his own
small group. Right after he left school, in Newtown ,
Port of Spain, He learnt to play the ukelele(otherwise
known as a quatro.)At that time a neighbour heard him
play and asked him to teach him to play. One thing
lead
to the next and the boys in the neighbourhood formed a
small group. He left this group and joined a singing
group called the 'Polka Dots'. This too was a rather
short experience when he found they mainly wanted him
because he knew of important people in connection with his clerical job for a
lawyer, a special adviser to the Prime Minister. Just
as he was leaving the 'Polka Dots' his ukelele
students were forming a combo. At this time everyone was
playing the electric guitar but it was Courtney's
misfortune the he couldn't afford one so he started
playing the guiro(known as a 'scratcher' see below) a instrument more in
line with his finances and ability to clown around.
His first break into the legitimate steelband world occured during a dance at the Shorelands Hotel, Bayshore. His group called 'The Moonrakers' and the 'Esso Trinidad Tripoli Steelband' were on the same bill. Hugh Borde, then leader of 'Tripoli' asked him to play on his free days.
Trinidad Tripoli Steelband
Shortly, thereafter he had to make a desision, whether to stay with 'The Moonrakers' or continue with 'Tripoli'. He chose 'Tripoli'and it was throught this group that he became known in Trinidad as a 'scratcher' player. 'The Moonrakers' did not play play for the general public (they only played for U.S. naval base personnel) but 'Tripoli did and he first got to play at a Steelband Jamboree at Old Arima GrandStand where other steelbands that were popular at the time were playing. In 1965 'Tripoli' won the Prime Ministers Trophy at the Steelband Festival and as a result became one of the 3 picked to play before Queen Elizabeth II when she visited Trinidad. 'Tripoli' performed in the governers garden and by special request play for QE2 for her departure the Royal yatch Britannia. Courtney made the headlines in Trinidad as the man who delayed the Queen who was captivated by his antics so much that she left later than intended. Later Tripolio was invited to play at the Trinidad and Tobago Pavillion at Expo '67 in Montreal. There performances was filmed by some American and Canadian television networks.
Trinidad and Tobago Pavillion: The round platform is where Courtney fell into the Saint Lawrence River from.
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