DIXIE   STARS
(Picture Needed)
"As a previous member of the band, I thought I should try to straighten out a few facts about its history. The band was formed as a breakaway from Dixie(l)and in 1951 by Jose Figueroa who brought with him his brother Rene, Rolph Moyou, Malcolm Woo and a few others, John Hamelsmith, 'Whiteman', and 'Wak Young'. The real names of the last two slip me, but I can find them if necessary. My older brother Steve and I having recently moved from Mt. Lambert to POS joined, probably in late '51 or early '52. There was no connection to Nightingales. The band practiced at the southwest corner of Gatacre and Kitchener St(reet)s in Mr. Alloy Pantin's yard. It was the first Esso Steel band. Jose soon lost leadership of the band to Rudy Commissiong, Penny'(s) uncle, and others joined. In '54, Esso took the band to Toronto to play at the Canadian National Exhibition, and again in 1955 for a cross Canada tour. In this period Rudy also took a side to Bermuda where they performed for many years as the Esso Steel band. Me, being the youngest person in the band was still in school at C.I.C and left behind. Esso decided somewhat late to also send a band to the CNE again and I was asked if I could put a band together for the purpose. This proved an insurmountable task (for me), at which point Esso Trinidad contacted Tropitones, a Woodbrook band involving the Figueroas, Fonzo Mosca, Georgie Ng Wai, Selwyn Gomes and others. Mr. Shepard of Esso offered them the chance to go on the condition that I also be included. On that basis I joined Tropitones. There is more to the story but for another time. During the time in the mid fifties when DixieStars was breaking up in Trinidad, I played with Silver Stars for carnival, but there was never any major movement of Dixie Stars into Silver Stars. ......" (Lawford Dupres, April 8, 2014)
Compiled by Ronald C. Emrit