Musical send-off for Golden Hands' pan maestra Franka Hills-Headley

GOLDEN Hands Steel Orchestra gave a musical send-off to its founder Franka Hills-Headley, 63, who died on August 1.

Her young pannists gave touching renditions of Impossible Dream and You Raise Me Up, conducted by her daughter Vanessa Alexandra Headley-Brewster.

MC Ancil Valley sang with the steelband for You Raise Me Up. Ace pannists Len “Boogsie” Sharpe and Ray Holman also paid tribute on pan.

Other tributes were paid by musicians Frankie McIntosh, Ato and Akita Williams, Nubia Williams, Makeda Purple; friend Ueleine Joseph; and pupils from Golden Hands.

Valley, a neighbour, recalled once hearing “wonderfully complex music” from Hills-Headley’s yard, where she coached Golden Hands.

“Franka was able to bring, from young people, a level of excellence that came from dedication and discipline.

“I remember that backyard becoming a homework centre, seeing kids coming there with their bookbags and Franka ensuring they did homework.

“There were whiteboards where music was being taught in terms of musical literacy.

“All of that happening, and these young people being allowed to be young people. They were charismatic, effervescent. They wanted to be wild – but with Franka you really couldn’t.”

He said Hills-Headley kept order by projecting a certain “look” towards her pupils, even as he quipped that the expressions on the faces of some folk in the funeral showed they knew what he meant.

TT Music Festival Association president Wendy Jeremie, in a tribute, said years ago, when teaching at the Department of Creative and Festival Arts (DCFA) at UWI, St Augustine, she had met Hills-Headley.

“We (DCFA) had partnered Golden Hands to put on a concert in early January 2008.”

Jeremie said from the onset, she had seen Hills-Headley as “very serious and businesslike.”

“At that time, for the first time, I saw so many little children playing the pan

“I said to myself, ‘This lady has to know what she is doing.’ And she did. They played perfectly.”

Recalling Hills-Headley once disciplining a child, she said, “I am often told by people that Franka did not make joke. Franka was meticulous and ruled with an iron hand.

“She taught them not only about pan, but about business, good manners, how they should comport themselves, discipline and their schoolbooks.”

Jeremie said the pupils obeyed the rules.

“We say thank you for participating in the festival year after year after year, and for paying attention to the national instrument and for maintaining your usual high standard through Golden Hands.”

Jeremie was grateful for the talks they used to have.

“We were serious when we talked, but we also laughed out loud.

“Farewell, good and faithful servant. You have done us proud. May you rest in peace.”

South Trinidad Music Festival Association communications officer Marilyn Lalla told Newsday she knew Hills-Headley from being backstage at the Music Festival.

“She was always gracious and very concerned about her players.”

Lalla praised the work done by Hills-Headley in developing her steelband.

“Everything in Golden Hands was always excellent. They deal with excellence. Everything they do is absolutely fantastic, and is always polished and refined.”

Lalla recalled Golden Hands’ touching performance of the Impossible Dream at the recent Music Festival, saying, “It had me in tears.”

She also hailed Headley-Brewster as “a chip off the old block.”

The eulogy was given by Hills-Headley’s sister, Andrea Grant.

Although growing up in a musical home, Hills-Headley had to contend with her father’s fear for his daughter that the panyard was “badjohn thing.”

Hills-Headley finished school at St Joseph’s Convent, San Fernando, went to study at UWI in Barbados – learning piano, guitar and pan along the way – and then became a teacher at San Fernando Secondary School, Grant related.

“Franka answered the call of the Most High on her life. The mandate was clear: As a good soldier in His army she sacrificed, endured hardship, often envied, hated, misunderstood.

“With her Shepherd she walked through the valley of the shadow of death and poured out what He wanted into the lives of countless people of this nation.

“The result? Pure pan excellence! A legacy of young people fulfilling their God-given purpose and changing their environment through musical excellence.”

Grant quoted Ecclesiastes 9:10, which urges people to do well at whatever they do, since there is no work to do in the grave.

“Her life was poured out as a drink offering to the downtrodden, misunderstood, lonely, weary, confused young people she was called to serve.

“She died emptied, having fulfilled her assignment.

“Franka answered the call, took her stand, chose to live her days on Earth a faithful woman. And to that end, she gave her all, and in the strength and grace of God, she answered the call.”