In a monumental second for Trinidad and Tobago and the broader Caribbean cultural neighborhood, Joshua “De Pan Man” Regrello has formally earned a Guinness World File for the longest steelpan-playing marathon, clocking a unprecedented 31 hours of nonstop music.
The file, now formally listed on the Guinness World Information web site, shines a world highlight on Trinidad and Tobago’s nationwide instrument and the enduring spirit of Caribbean creativity.
The marathon efficiency passed off from December 27 to twenty-eight, 2024, on the WACK 90.1 FM studio in San Fernando, the place Regrello started the problem at 6:00 a.m. on Friday and performed constantly via to only after midday on Saturday.
“This extraordinary accomplishment units a brand new world benchmark for musical endurance and shines a highlight on Trinidad and Tobago’s nationwide musical instrument on the world stage,” stated the Ministry of Tradition and Group Growth in a public assertion.
Regrello’s feat was not a solo mission. It was powered by a groundswell of help from household, pals, fellow musicians, and followers, each in-person and on-line. Native entertainers similar to Rome, violinist Mr. Strings, Soca artist Voice, and DJ Extremely Simmo lent their presence and vitality to the hassle, remodeling the efficiency right into a carnival of cultural delight.
With solely a short, Guinness-mandated 30-minute break, Regrello powered via fatigue and starvation, typically seen taking part in one-handed whereas hydrating or grabbing a fast chunk. His dedication captured the creativeness of 1000’s, proving not solely his private endurance but additionally the unwavering spirit of pan tradition.
To make sure compliance with Guinness’s stringent guidelines, Trinidad’s Ministry of Tradition assigned 4 Cultural Officers to function official timekeepers and witnesses, reinforcing the legitimacy of the record-setting occasion.
Minister of Tradition and Group Growth Michelle Benjamin described Regrello’s success as “a win for all of us.”
For Regrello, this isn’t nearly hours logged, it’s about legacy. The steelpan, invented within the mid-Twentieth century in Trinidad and Tobago, has at all times been an emblem of innovation, resilience, and cultural brilliance. Now, due to this Guinness World File, it holds a brand new place in world music historical past.
He shared by way of his official Instagram web page, “ I’m now a Guinness World File title Holder for the longest marathon taking part in steelpan/ metal drums. Months in the past, we got here along with one mission: to make historical past via the ability of steelpan and unity. At this time, that dream is a worldwide file.”
He continued, “To everybody who believed, supported close to and much, from the early planning to the ultimate word, thanks. We’ve executed it. That is greater than a private milestone, this can be a win for steelpan, our tradition and our individuals. That is by all of us, for all of us”.
With this historic achievement, Joshua Regrello has added one other milestone to the story of Caribbean excellence. His file is a tribute to custom, endurance, and the unbreakable beat of the islands.
