Senior Reporter
kevon.felmine@guardian.co.tt
Pannist Joshua Regrello struck a powerful chord of unity with an extraordinary feat—playing the steelpan for 31 hours.
His historic performance achieved what few have managed in years—bringing people together through music.
With just eight seconds to go, Regrello raised his left hand in triumph, his right gliding through the final notes of Olatunji’s Inventor. As cheers erupted from supporters inside and outside WACK 90.1 FM’s studio in San Fernando, he capped off the marathon performance with the National Anthem.
Regrello started his quest for a Guinness World Record (GWR) at 6.28 am on Friday and delivered a mesmerising repertoire of soca, calypso, and even on-the-spot requests from visiting artistes.
The star-studded lineup included Nadia Batson, Farmer Nappy, Voice, and violinists Andre Donawa and Mr Strings, among others. Despite the gruelling schedule, Regrello radiated energy, pausing only twice for 25-minute breaks—once after 17 hours for a bathroom run and later for a quick power nap.
His mother, Kamla Regrello, stood faithfully by his side, feeding him during the performance. There was a steady stream of high-profile supporters, including Regrello’s father, former San Fernando mayor Junia Regrello, Minister of Tourism, Culture and the Arts Randall Mitchell, Minister of Agriculture, Land and Fisheries Kazim Hosein, Deputy Mayor Patricia Alexis, and a host of councillors, family, friends, and social media influencers.
With the crowd growing by the hour, staff had to rotate guests to give everyone a chance to witness the historic event.
When the music ended, an exhausted but elated Regrello thanked everyone who supported him, including the independent witnesses crucial for submitting his record attempt to a GWR. Reflecting on the feat, he revealed he had no doubts about his ability to pull it off.
“There was not much preparation, but as a seasoned performer, I have done five- or six-hour concerts filled with high energy, so when I thought about it, this was not impossible,” he said.
Regrello felt he could have gone longer.
“I believe I could have reached 35 hours. We only stopped because we had set the timer for 31 hours,” he said.
Asked how many songs he played, he laughed, admitting that fatigue blurred the details.
“Sometimes, artistes showed up, and I learned their songs on the spot,” he explained.
While GWR approval is still pending, Regrello said the record attempt aimed to showcase the steelpan’s global potential and encourage innovative careers in the performing arts. He was overwhelmed by the performance’s impact, especially the steady stream of online viewers.
“At one point, someone showed me YouTube and there were 7,000 viewers. I was like, ‘What?’ I genuinely did not expect that,” he said.
His father expressed immense pride in his achievement.
“Joshua has an immense appeal. Wherever we go, people say how pleasant he is. That speaks volumes about his character. His connection with major artistes like Nadia Batson and Voice shows how well-respected he is,” he said.
Mitchell emphasised the global significance of Regrello’s achievement.
“Submitting this to GWR is just another way of pushing the steelpan across the globe. It is something we can boast about. This feat embodies the stamina, grit, and determination of Trinidad and Tobago, particularly San Fernando. It is a story we can package and market worldwide,” he said.
Mitchell encouraged other musicians to follow Regrello’s lead in promoting T&T’s rich cultural heritage.
“Beyond our natural resources, our culture is our greatest attribute. Look at Carnival—it has inspired festivals around the world. This is what makes us unique,” he said.
Regrello’s performance was not just about endurance, it was a celebration of the steelpan and its ability to bring people together. Scores of people awaited his departure from the building, chanting his name as he walked down the staircase, with some even taking a few selfies.
