The group began in 1942 as the
Tripoli Steel Band, named after a lyric in the
United States Marines' Hymn. In 1951, the group came under the leadership of Hugh Borde, who directed the ensemble to greater technical skill and established them as contenders in local
Carnival competitions. Soon after the release of the album, Esso cancelled its sponsorship, so the group rechristened itself the
Trinidad Tripoli Steel Band, and under this name toured internationally with
Liberace. Parks recorded a one-hour
documentary of the group's tour, and called them "the greatest group I've ever had the privilege to produce." Hugh Borde and his family moved to
Ypsilanti, Michigan in the United States in 1976, after which the Trinidadian group disbanded, but Borde's sons played under the name Trinidad Tripoli Steel Band in the United States, and released the albums
Momentum in 1985 and
Hot Like Fire in 1994. ==References==