Veteran pannist/arranger to call it a day

June 28, 2007 - One of Grenada's most outstanding pannists and arranger Michael "Boose" Cyrus is planning to draw the curtains on his Panorama career when he does his last arrangement for Corinthians in this year's panorama competition. Doing a song aptly named "Farewell to Pan", Cyrus will bid farewell after being involved with the steelpan over the last 40 years.

Cyrus began his steelpan career as a toddler on a Coke Box with Angel Harps and was the youngest member of the band when they recorded their first album in 1973 "Brighter out of Darkness". It was also around this time (1973/1974) that he became the senior arranger for Angel Harps Steel Orchestra, taking on the responsibility after people like Lester Boyke and Arthur Coard had migrated from Grenada.

Cyrus made his panorama arranger debut in 1978 placing second with Kitchener's "Pan in the 21st Century" and Sparrow's "Natasha". This was the period when bands still played two selections for panorama. His next appearance at panorama was in 1983 when he again placed second with an arrangement of "Rebecca". He won his first panorama in 1984 with "Tourist Elsie" a Kitchener composition that was jointly arranged by James Clarkson. Cyrus also served as a captain for the Harps during the eighties.

His willingness to assist other bands saw him associated with the newly formed City Newtones in the early eighties as arranger and in recent times with Corinthians Steel Orchestra of St. Davids, also as an arranger.

We at Angel Harps wish Mike all the best and say THANK YOU for your contributions to the Harps over the years.