Darcus Howe & Selwyn Baptiste

Selwyn Baptiste (10 July 1936 – 5 January 2012) was a Trinidadian-born pioneer of the introduction of the steel drum into Britain, forming the country's second steel band in 1967, and early organizer of London's Notting Hill Carnival. An educator as well as a pannist, a percussionist and drummer, he is credited with bringing about the teaching of steelpan playing throughout the UK.
Baptiste soon became involved in community educational work in the area, and began teaching children to play the steel pan at the Wornington Road adventure playground (now the Venture Centre) off Golborne Road in North Kensington, joining forces with community worker Rhaune Laslett. By 1970, "the Notting Hill Carnival consisted of 2 music bands, the Russell Henderson Combo and Selwyn Baptiste’s Notting Hill Adventure Playground Steelband and 500 dancing spectators."
In the 1970s Baptiste was instrumental in bringing about the close association of The Tabernacle in Notting Hill with Carnival. As noted in one tribute to him: "Those who recall the Sundays in the Tabernacle during the run-up to the Bank Holiday weekend in the mid- to late-70s – with Metronomes and Ebony Steelbands, DJs Shadow, Lord Sam and the young Freddie - will remember that it was a nondescript community hall. He gave it Carnival purpose." In 2011, the Tabernacle honoured Baptiste with a lifetime achievement award.