Pan Loco Steel Band is a four-piece mixed ethnic musical ensemble consisting of steel drums, bass and percussion. In business for almost seven years now, we have performed at over 1000 events including festivals, weddings, corporate events, college dances, nightclubs, and private parties of all types and sizes. Over time, we have earned a solid and trusted reputation as polished professionals who have the appropriate look, feel sound and attitude you expect for your event. We also love what we do and this will be obvious.
The four talented members, who hail from Berklee College and the University of New Hampshire, have been performing all types of music in the New England area for many years. We have our act down pat, and the repertoire is authentic and appropriate for all ages. You won't hear top 40 songs or elevator music. Pan Loco will bring sweet calypso, reggae and island music from the Caribbean direct to your doorstep. When you hear Pan Loco, you will wish you were on a slow boat to Saint Thomas! It's the real thing!
Pan Loco is available for all occasions including festivals, weddings (any size), parades, corporate events, college dances, nightclubs, and private parties of all types and sizes. A resume and professional references can be furnished upon request. Why listen to a tape when you can come out to hear and see us LIVE at our public performances, or at our rehearsals in downtown Boston? To get our performance and rehearsal schedule, or for more information and bookings, contact Pan Loco at (617) 445-5311 and ask for Justin Petty.
Professor Justin A. Petty was born May 7, 1971 in the city of Charlotte Amalie on the Island of St. Thomas in the US Virgin Islands. He is the middle child of ten children.
Justin began playing music at an early age. He was very versatile on the flute-o-phone or recorder, a member of his school and church choirs, the Drum Major of the Concert and Marching bands and could often be heard singing and writing his own calypsos with his neighborhood buddies.
In 1984, he joined the Rising Stars Youth Steel Orchestra playing the guitar pan for one year before switching to the Tenor or lead pan. Justin has performed in the Cherry Blossom Parade, Heritage Festival and on the Capitol Steps in Washington, DC, at Lincoln Center's Alice Tully Hall in New York, the Berklee Performance Center, Taiwan, Japan, at the Tournament of Roses Parade in Pasadena, California, Puerto Rico, Tortola, BVI, at Carnival and the Savannah in Trinidad, West Indies, at the Three Worlds Festival of Florida, and the 1993 Presidential Inaugural Parade for former President William Clinton just to name a few. He has also appeared as a soloist with the late Calypsonian Aldwyn "Lord Kitchener" Roberts on several occasions.
On November 22, 1989, under Resolution #1405, Bill # 18-0239 and by an act of the Eighteenth Legislature of the Virgin Islands of the United States of America in Regular Session, Mr. Petty was named an Ambassador of Goodwill.
In 1991, while at Berklee College of Music, Justin became a co-founder of the Pan Loco Steel Band Combo performing all over New England and its surrounding areas. In 1997, he was asked to arrange a ten minute musical piece for Branches Pan Groove Steel Orchestra to be performed in the Boston West Indian Carnival's Steel band competition known as Panorama. Under the musical direction of Mr. Petty, Branches has won the competition in 1997, 1999, 2000 and 2002. They placed 2nd in 1998 and could not defend their title in 2001 because the competition did not show up.
In 1998, Justin was consulted on the formation of the only steel band on the north shore of Massachusetts. In February of 1999, the Crystal Panjammers Steel Band, under the supervision of the North Shore Caribbean Association and musical direction of Justin Petty, was formed. Many individuals and organizations have always sought Justin's expertise and knowledge about the steel pan. The Celestial Infernos of St. Cyprians Episcopal Church, where he attends, is the most recent steel band started by Justin. He has given lectures on the origin and evolution of the steel pan at Universities and Colleges throughout New England, Pennsylvania, the Virgin Islands and New York. He has written award winning music beds for many TV and radio commercials.
Mr. Petty holds a Bachelor Degree in Music Production and Engineering from Berklee College of Music and a Master of Science Degree in Broadcast Administration/Television Management from Boston University. Currently, he holds the record of being the youngest and first Tenured Professor of Broadcast Media Technology at Roxbury Community College in Roxbury, Massachusetts, (where he is also the Department Chair of Technology), an honorary member of Phi Theta Kappa International Honor Society, a Life Member of Alpha Phi Alpha Fraternity, Inc., and holds memberships in the International Who's Who of Professional Educators, John J. Smith Lodge #14 Free & Accepted Masons, John J. Smith Chapter #3 Order Of The Eastern Stars, St. Stephens Chapter #1 Holy Royal Arch Masons, Adoniram Council #23 Royal &Select Masters State of New York & Jurisdictions, Golgotha Commandery #3 Knight Templars and Holy Sepulchre Consistory #17 under the United Supreme Council of the 33rd and last Degree in Freemasonry, Northern Jurisdiction. He is also the owner and founder of Justin Time Productions, a music, audio, video and multimedia production company. In October of 2003, Mr. Petty was elected to the Board of Trustees of the Boston Neighborhood Network for the City of Boston and is a on the Board of Directors for the Bridge Fund.
He resides with his better half, Astride, and is the father of two sons, six year old Jaylen and Justin, Jr. who is 8 months.