Simon Carimbocas marches to his own beat

IN his 54 years in the music industry, Simon Carimbocas has faced some challenges, but through it all there was one constant – he followed his passion and held firm to his faith in God.

For 30 of those 54 years he has owned and operated his own music shop called Simon’s Music Supplies Ltd, 20 Borde Street, Port of Spain.

His story was featured as part of development advocate and financial wellness specialist Keisha Cruickshank’s Champions of Change: virtual celebration and learning series.

The series was held via Zoom and began in September. It targets business leaders, HR practitioners, educators, parents and families. She said there have been six parts of the series with 11 people featured so far.

“The intention was to provide information that is not widely available in the public domain to allow people to better cope and to forge forward with their dreams and aspirations during this time of change,” she said.

Carimbocas was featured in a series with president of the National Parang Association of TT Alicia Jaggassar and career musician Arthur Marcial on pursuing one’s passion and making it one’s business.

Carimbocas, 71, always had a passion for music and his journey into the industry began as a young man when his late brother Frankie Pollard played in a band called the Carim Brothers in the 1950s. Pollard got him a job at a music shop called National Music on Pembroke Street, where he worked for four years before moving on to work at another music shop called SA-Gomes. He worked there for 20 years, moving steadily up the ranks and eventually becoming the person responsible for looking after the shop’s importation of musical instruments. He did extensive travelling representing the company at events such as music conventions in Los Angeles. His knowledge about the industry increased and the idea to start his own music business sprouted. He registered Simon’s Musical Supplies Ltd when he realised SA-Gomes was on the verge of closure.

In 1989, when SA-Gomes closed its doors, Carimbocas began calling many of the international industry specialists he had met, explaining to them that her had opened his own business. He received their full support, many extending credit facilities of 30, 40 even 90 days to him. But Carimbocas was still unsure of how he was going to start. His late mother Violet Carimbocas assisted him by giving him her savings. He also had the support of his late wife Lenore and friends like percussionist Michael "Toby" Tobias. He recalled Tobias giving him some drumsticks and drum practice pads when he told him he was about to start his own business. Simon’s Musical Supplies opened on Edward Street in October 1989. But over time, Carimbocas was able to purchase his own property at 20 Borde Street.

The shop sells over 100 different types of musical instruments and accessories, among them pans, pan cases, pan stands and sticks, acoustic guitars, classical guitars, bass, cuatros, harps, a range of keyboards, and the widest range of African drums.

"Anything that is manufactured in the musical world we can get it for you," he said, including hard-to-find items that are hardly played in TT. He said even among his top sellers, like the keyboard, pan and guitar, the shop offers a variety.

“People come in and don't want to leave...I am proud of myself. We have given TT the best music shop. People from Barbados, Guyana etc come to our shop. We do a lot of business with people in Grenada. People get prices better than shopping in the US. We believe in variety and people get a musical education when they come into the store,” he said.

While he does not outfit every major band in TT, he does outfit 98 per cent of steelbands – no matter the size – with their instruments. And whatever other instrument are required, if Carimbocas does not have it in store he will source and order it. He also sells pans regionally and internationally.

But like other businesses all over the world, Carimbocas said, his business has slowed because of the pandemic.

He estimates that about 50 per cent of his business has slowed because of a closed entertainment sector. Usually, from Christmas into Carnival he would be conducting bumper-to-bumper business, but this year that has not been the case. The difficulty in acquiring foreign exchange makes it even harder. However, he said, he still earns enough to take care of staff and overhead expenses, and he still maintains his generosity, having donated instruments to many people and schools over the years.

And while many people have moved to online shopping because of the pandemic and he said he will consider selling online in the new year, he does not believe one can buy an instrument online.

“Buying an instrument online is ill advised,” he said.

Over the years Carimbocas has met many exceptional people, but to him the late educator, music director, artist and cultural icon Pat Bishop is the most memorable.

“She always listened to me,” he said.

Living his passion has given Carimbocas a full life and he believes it is important for people to follow their passion.

“Each and everyone of us is born with God-given talents and we have to examine where our talent lies,” he said.

For him, anyone getting into business should get into something they love.

While people get into business to earn, Carimbocas believes the main objective should not be the money but love.

“I love meeting people and I love serving people,” he said.

Even now, he continues to pursue his passion, hoping to open a music academy where, “We can teach people to play music and take it to a different level.”

In his world, he said, “When words fail, music speaks.”

Carimbocas said his son, Deon, will carry on his musical legacy.