WALLACE   AUSTIN DATE OF BIRTH: ... PLACE OF BIRTH: ..., Trinidad EDUCATION: ... STEELBANDS: Invaders (1950s) Ebonites (1960s) SPECIALTY: Player Tuner CAREER:                                    Austin began playing the steelpan in the early-1950s with the Invaders Steelband. He then learned to tune the steelpan and became part of the legendary team of tuners (Rudolph Charles, Lincoln Noel, James "Bassman" Jackman, Emmanuel Riley, Bertie Marshall, and Tony Slater) that gave Desperadoes their unique sound and was considered one of the finest steelpan tuners ever. He gained recognition for his tuning capabilities in the 1960s when his work was reflected in the exceptional tonal quality of bands such as Ebonites, Trinidad All Stars, Harmonites, Silver Stars, Tokyo, and Dixieland. He moved to New York, USA, in the 1970s where he continued to tune pans for bands all over the USA. DIED: December 22, 2016 Compiled by Ronald C. Emrit