Our story
Tom "Tommy Rey" Reynolds
Seven decades of steel drums, from the streets of St. Croix to a Billboard Top 10 hit to a workshop in Sanford, Florida.
Born in St. Croix, U.S. Virgin Islands.
The craftsman
A life in steel
Tom Reynolds was 11 years old in 1954 when steel drum music first reached St. Croix, brought by members of Antigua's Hell's Gate Steel Band. Two years later he was playing and making his own pans, picking up technique from the Trinidad bands that came through for Carnival.
He formed The Moonshiners in 1957, then Tommy Rey and His Caribe Steel Band, which he took from Puerto Rico to New York City. The band played the Caribbean Pavilion at the 1964 to 1965 World's Fair and recorded Twisting Steel Drums for Epic, one of the earliest steel drum albums.
In 1971 Tom co-founded Hamilton, Joe Frank & Reynolds. Their debut single, "Don't Pull Your Love," reached the Top 10 on the Billboard Hot 100. He played percussion, steel drums, flute, vibes and keyboards, and sang.
After the spotlight, Tom went back to the work he started with: building pans by hand. He does that today from his workshop in Sanford, Florida, where professionals go for pans and tuning.
- Making pans
- Since 1956
- Built each year
- About 100
- Work per drum
- About 10 days
Timeline
Seventy years, in order
The moments that shaped the shop, from a first listen in St. Croix to the workshop in Sanford.
- 1954
Steel drums arrive in St. Croix
Eleven-year-old Tom Reynolds hears steel drum music for the first time when members of Antigua's Hell's Gate Steel Band visit the island.
- 1956
The craft begins
Tom starts playing and making steel drums, learning from Trinidad-based carnival bands that visit St. Croix during Carnival season.
- 1957
The Moonshiners
Tom forms his first steel band, The Moonshiners, in St. Croix.
- 1960
Tommy Rey and His Caribe Steel Band
While studying in Puerto Rico, Tom forms the Caribe Steel Band and takes the group to New York City.
- 1962
First album
The Caribe Steel Band releases Twisting Steel Drums on the Epic label, one of the earliest steel drum recordings.
- 1964
New York World's Fair
The Caribe Steel Band plays the Caribbean Pavilion of the 1964 to 1965 New York World's Fair.
- 1971
Billboard Top 10
As a founding member of Hamilton, Joe Frank & Reynolds, Tom co-creates "Don't Pull Your Love," a Top 10 hit on the Billboard Hot 100. He played percussion, steel drums, flute, vibes and keyboards, and sang.
- 1993
Pan in Paradise
Tom releases Pan in Paradise, a return to Caribbean roots with original compositions.
- 2003
Island Memories
Tom releases Island Memories, with Caribbean classics and originals like "Down to St. Croix" and "Island Breeze."
- Today
Tropical Hammer, Sanford
From the workshop at 900 Country Club Rd., Tom keeps building and tuning pans by hand with his sledgehammer technique.
Discography
The music of Tommy Rey
Three albums, from Caribbean steel drum standards to Latin jazz. The CDs are in the shop, and Pan in Paradise streams below.
Pan in Paradise
Tom Reynolds, 1993
- Pan in Cruzan Time
- Tropical Jazz Delight
- Isla de Espana
- Caribbean Stroll
- Pan in Paradise
Island Memories
Tom Reynolds, 2003
- St. Thomas
- Jamaica Farewell Medley
- Day-O
- Down to St. Croix
- Yellowbird Medley
Caribbean-Latin Jazz Connection
Blanchard/Reynolds Jazz Ensemble
- Mas Alla' De Samba
- Caribbean Reggae Stroll
- Salsa Bonita
- Fiesta Cubana
- A Southwind Blew
Stream Pan in Paradise
How a drum gets made
Four stages, all by hand
Each Tropical Hammer pan goes through the same four steps, all done by hand in the Sanford shop.
Step 1
Selection
Every drum starts with the right steel, chosen before any shaping begins.
Step 2
Sinking and shaping
Tom hammers the flat steel into its concave bowl with the sledgehammer technique he has used since the 1950s.
Step 3
Grooving and marking
Each note area is outlined and grooved, separating the tonal regions across the face of the drum.
Step 4
Tuning
Each note is hand-tuned to concert pitch, with the overtones balanced so the drum sings clearly.
Sanford, Florida
Come see the workshop
The shop is at 900 Country Club Rd., Sanford, FL 32773. Visits are by appointment, so call or send a note first and we will set a time that works.