Silver Steel Band
Connecticut's Award-Winning Steel Pan Band
EVENTS
Who is
Silver Steel Band
The Award Winning Silver Steel Band is a Steel Drum Band based in Bridgeport, CT, directed by Jim Royle and Brian Ente of Jim Royle Drum Studios. You can find Silver Steel playing many of your favorite Caribbean favorites as well as Soca and Calypso styled music from Trinidad and Tobago. Entering our 13th year together, Silver Steel delights audiences with our infectious rhythms resulting in spontaneous dancing, uncontrollable joy, and perpetual smiles wherever we play!
Email us at: info@silversteelband.com
Songs and Artists
Silver Steel Band covers a wide variety of crowd-pleasing styles
Caribbean
Feijoada
Jump for Joy
Kitchener Medley
Yumbambe
Banana Boat - Harry Belafonte
Cheeseburger in Paradise - Jimmy Buffett
Hot Hot Hot - Buster Poindexter
Iko Iko - Justin Wellington
Jump in the Line - Harry Belafonte
Margaritaville - Jimmy Buffett
Marianne
Morning Dance - Spyro Gyra
Sing Sing Sing - Louis Prima
Spake the Sun
Tequila - The Champs
Yellowbird
Volcano - Jimmy Buffett
Red Red Wine - UB40
Reggae
Don't Worry, Be Happy - Bobby McFerrin
D'yer Maker - Led Zeppelin
I Shot the Sheriff - Eric Clapton
Itty Bitty House - Mystic Bowie
Jammin’ - Bob Marley
One Love - Bob Marley
Three Little Birds - Bob Marley
You Can Get It - Jimmy Cliff
No Woman, No Cry - Bob Marley
Kids
Pop
ABBA Medley
Conga - Gloria Estefan
Don't Stop Believing - Journey
Footloose - Kenny Loggins
Fun Fun Fun! - The Beach Boys
Funkytown - Lipps, Inc.
Get Lucky - Daft Punk
Happy - Pharrell Williams
I Wish - Stevie Wonder
Kokomo -The Beach Boys
September - Earth Wind and Fire
Dock of the Bay - Otis Redding
Smooth -Santana feat. Rob Thomas
Sweet Caroline -Neil Diamond
We Are Family -Sister Sledge
You Can Call Me Al - Paul Simon
Copacabana - Barry Manilow
Under the Boardwalk -The Drifters
Rock
25 or 6 to 4 -Chicago
Any Way You Want It -Journey
Baba O'Riley -The Who
Bang the Drum All Day -Todd Rundgren
Blitzkrieg Bop -The Ramones
Evil Ways/Oye Como Va - Santana
Kashmir -Led Zeppelin
Low Rider -War
Money for Nothing -Dire Straits
Seven Nation Army -The White Stripes
Soul Sacrifice -Santana
Sweet Child O' Mine -Guns and Roses
Under the Sea
Wanna Be Like You
I'm a Believer
Kiss the Girl
Limbo Rock
Lion Sleeps Tonight
Meet the Band
Meet Jim Royle... the man behind the studio, the engine, the motivator, our leader. Jim has owned the Jim Royle Drum Studio teaching percussion and based in Bridgeport for over 40 years. He is a beloved mentor to hundreds, if not thousands of kids and adults. In addition, Jim leads Silver Steel Band, Roylety Steel Pan Band, Jim Royle’s Caribbean Jazz Connection and often plays with Chris Coogan and John Mobilio all over Connecticut. Lastly, he is an avid NY Mets and Pittsburgh Steelers fan.
Meet Larry the numbers guy on doubles. "While winding down a 38 year career as a statistician in the pharmaceutical industry, I wanted to take on a new hobby. So 9.8 years ago, I started taking steel pan lessons. Then 5.2 months afterwards, I joined Silver Steel and as a result, have taken part in many adventures. Even after 384 rehearsals and 172 gigs, I still enjoy the thrill of learning new songs (97 so far) and performing to enthusiastic audiences. Furthermore, I treasure my friendships with my 14 fellow pannists and other band members." [Remember that 29% of statistics are made up!]
Meet Sharyn who keeps us organized, prepared for rehearsals, is an amazing soloist, and more importantly, books our gigs! "I have had thrilling and memorable experiences – playing live in front of large crowds and standing ovations, knowing that I have nailed a solo perfectly, going to Trinidad and Tobago, and making wonderful and lasting friendships with my bandmates.
I played drums for the band and orchestra in high school. Often, our rehearsals were in the evening. When I tell my mom I’m on my way to band practice on Monday nights, I feel like I’m back in high school…without the angst. I just love playing pan.”
Drum roll please... Meet Brian! best teacher on the planet, patience of a saint, talented percussionist and singer, awesome human and most modest soul...."I’ve been a part of Silver Steel since the beginning. I have seen it grow from a few parents who wanted to enjoy the same musical experiences that their children were having through our percussion program into what it is today…the hippest most happening community steel band band in CT. We bring love and joy to audiences everywhere we go because of the love and joy that we bring each other when we play. As for things most people don’t know about me, I play board games. Not Monopoly or Parcheesi but things like- Twilight Imperium, Spirit Island and Warhammer Underworlds. I have participated in Extra Life, a board game fundraiser where you play board games for 24 hours in a marathon to raise money for CT Childrens Hospital. I will be doing it again this November with some of my friends”.
Meet Sue, awesome lead pan soloist! Susan is a lifelong drummer and percussionist and has been playing tenor pan with Silver Steel for over10 years. She has performed with music groups of many different styles but feels especially fortunate to be playing in a 17 piece steel orchestra. She enjoys the uplifting sounds of steel pan and the way they reach all kinds of people. "We can play for people dancing in a bar at midnight and for families with children at an ice cream stand the next day”.
Meet Bob. "When my son was taking lessons at the drum studio I decided to try also and joined the band, even bought my own double second steel drums. It is great fun playing live music when the audience dances and participates. And if you hear a siren at our shows, don’t worry, it’s Bob the secret siren cranker!"
Meet Dorothy, the trained musician. "I’m the relative newcomer on the block! I am classically trained (Oberlin Conservatory) and my career thrust has been teaching piano. When, a few years back, I chanced to hear the Silver Steel Band I was both intrigued and enamored. I fancied that this might be fun, and probably easy, so I pursued it. Easy...NOT, the managing of three pans with two mallets (!) but the fun factor certainly turned out to be true. I was (am) not familiar with the majority of songs but my band mates (yes, occasional teasing) have been both tolerant and kind. I love the look of surprise when my classic piano colleagues are told that I now play in a steel drum band . The best part, aside from the joy of making music in ensemble, is the camaraderie within the group. All are fun-loving, music-loving, and dedicated to the task. Not only am I having a good time…I do appreciate the strong brain stimulation!"
Then we have Cathy! My love for music comes from playing the oboe and the piano in high school. I began taking lessons on the steel pan in 2019. The first time I entered the Jim Royle Drum Studio I felt an immediate rush of excitement. The steel pan is such a cool instrument! It’s a privilege to have the opportunity to once again be a part of something so collectively energizing. I’m grateful to my amazing teacher Brian Ente, and to the band for welcoming me as a member and for encouraging me with humor and patience. How lucky I am to have met such a talented, fun and inspiring group of people.
Things that I love: my family and friends, summer gigs and rehearsing with the band, travel, boating, live music, book group, my granddaughter, and sunshine!
In 2010, Jim Royle and Brian Ente were teaching steel pan to their students. Some of the parents said “That looks like great fun. We would like to learn to play too.” and Silver Steel was born. Our current band builds on the legacy of those who came before us and is the foundation for our joy. We honor them here.
Our fans are ever-present, giving us energy and drive to perform at our best.
Thanks for your inspiration!
Press
KIT
SILVER STEEL loves interacting with the media, and here you can download press information and promotion materials. Learn everything there is to know about this talented band, and get in touch if you need more material.
Press Brochure
Group Shot 01
Group Shot 02
Logos
FOR MORE INFO
FOLLOW
© 2023 Silver Steel Band