Aldwin Albino

Music of the "Mang" Aldwin Albino

This book of Aldwin Albino's life story demonstrates that the pursuit of musical knowledge on both a practical and theoretical level plays an important role in self-development. Albino would go on to successfully intertwine both music and teaching for his students' benefit. His visionary stance enabled lower class students to excel academically and to accept themselves, while helping upper class members of society to envision the prominent role that Trinidad could later play on the world stage because of the very steel drum that they initially dismissed as vulgar. He has released three recordings of calypso music played classically. Reaction to these projects ranged from utter consternation to unabashed approval. Aldwin was again "teaching" through music. Albino has been a sought after musician, arranger, teacher, and musical director for radio, television shows both in his native Trinidad and North America. Many accolades have been bestowed upon him including the Martin Luther King award for his contribution to the arts in Canada, and the Trinidad and Tobago award for the arts in New York, U. S. A. Throughout it all he has guided and shaped young minds in the schools of Trinidad and Montreal by skillfully bringing music into his academic programs. Proof of the effectiveness of his approach is evident in the fact that many prominent scholars and performers acknowledge his influence. Aldwin Albino has succeeded in absorbing the "music of the mang" only to refine and shape it for the betterment of mankind-the mark of a true artist indeed.