The brother of the late Ken "Professor" Philmore is calling for the establishment of a steelpan academy to be built in his brother's name.
Brian Philmore was speaking during a tribute at the Fonclaire Steel Orchestra panyard in San Fernando on Tuesday which was attended by hundreds of people from all walks of life, including former president Anthony Carmona.
He said it was his brother's dream to construct a steelpan school for youths.
And he resurrected one of his brother's most hurtful experiences after Fonclaire lost the 1990 Panorama title by half of a point with its rendition of Pan by Storm.
"I want to send the message to the judges that you did my brother an injustice because that was Fonclaire's year and in our heart, we knew that that was Fonclaire's year and I am sorry he left this plane of existence as the only arranger that did not win a Panorama."
He recalled his brother first picked up his pan sticks at age 15 and taught himself to play by air.
"That Pan by Storm is the time when he should have made his mark in the industry and at quiet times he would talk about it all the time. We have been battling a north/south battle from inception for too long and that bothered Ken. He used to cry and say maybe it is the way I look or maybe it is where I am from."
Philmore said his brother, who taught at Pleasantville Senior Secondary, also had a vision, along with his mother, for a steelpan school but he was hesitant to pursue it because of how some people and governments treated the national instrument. Philmore said a fitting tribute to his brother will be to establish a steelband school.
"The country is dying from lack of arrangers. Arrangers are leaving us and none are being created," he said.
Fonclaire's arranger Darren Sheppard said on Sunday night when he left the panyard where a tribute was held hours after Prof Philmore's death, a melody began haunting him in his head.
"Half past three in the morning I came up with a melody. Fonclaire allyuh have allyuh song for 2019. And the title of that song is Heart of Love and we going to paint the savannah for Philmore on the final night. "
He said Prof Philmore set the bar for professionalism in the artform and for how entertainers and pannists should interact with fans because he was an approachable and friendly person.
Philmore was remembered not only in words but also with extempo, pan, drums, in song and with a special performance by moko jumbies as the panyard was transformed into a mini Carnival/Panorama lime. It was attended by politicians, businessmen, soca artistes, pannists, drummers, calypsonians, other stakeholders in the artform and people of all sections of society all came out to pay their last respects to the steelpan icon.
A public viewing will be held on Thursday between 12 pm - 5 pm at Guides Funeral Home and Crematorium in San Fernando, while the funeral service will be held on Friday at 10 am, at the National Academy for Performing Arts (South Campus) followed by a private cremation.
Philmore, 59, died on Sunday at the San Fernando General Hospital, a week after he suffering serious injuries in a vehicular accident. He is survived by his wife Sophia and four children.