Tracy Thornton is an American steelpan musician, composer, arranger, producer, and educator. He is the founder and CEO of Steel Pandemic Records and the creator of "Pan Rocks," a steel drum orchestra that performs rock, heavy metal, punk, and pop music.
Career
Thornton has been performing as a professional steelpannist for more than 20 years and has released over 15 solo albums. His work includes numerous steelpan tribute albums dedicated to artists such as The Ramones (Pan For Punks...A Steelpan Tribute To The Ramones, 2006), Jane's Addiction (Been Caught Steelin'...A Steelpan Tribute To Jane's Addiction, 2008), Jack Johnson (Pan On The North Shore...A Steelpan Tribute To Jack Johnson, 2011), and The Police (The Pan Police...A Steelpan Tribute To The Police, 2012).
Thornton has performed across the continental United States, as well as in Hawaii, Europe, Japan, Hong Kong, China, Mexico, Canada, and throughout the Caribbean. He has participated in Trinidad and Tobago's annual Panorama steel band competition, performing with groups including Phase II, Potential Symphony, NGC Couva Joylanders, Lavantille's Uni Stars, and Tobago's Hope Pan Groove.
He is the founder and director of the youth steel band "Sons of Steel," which toured with the original Wailer's Band and performed at Walt Disney World's Epcot Center, as well as with soca artists Machel Montano, Iwer George, and Shadow. Sons of Steel also appeared on Univision's variety show Sabado Gigante.
Thornton's "Pan Rocks" project has been featured at PASIC 2015 in San Antonio, Texas, and at South Carolina's PAS Day. He has shared the stage with musicians including Stephen Perkins (Jane's Addiction), Billy Sheehan (Mr. Big/David Lee Roth), Tracii Guns (LA Guns), Bruce Kulick (Kiss/Grand Funk Railroad), and cellists Emil & Dariel. The "Pan Rocks Project LA" was produced by Matt Starr and mixed by Smiley Sean, with mastering by Dave Collins.
Thornton co-founded the "Ensoul Pan Pickup," a device that allows a steelpan to be plugged into an amplifier.
His music has been featured in television shows including CBS's NCIS: LA, Comedy Central's Workaholics, and Keeping Up With The Kardashians. He has been profiled in DRUM! Magazine, Spin, Modern Drummer, Global Rhythm, Billboard Online, and MTV.com. His album Pan For Punks, A Steelpan Tribute to The Ramones was voted one of the top 10 CDs of 2006 by Global Rhythm magazine.
Discography
- Tracy Thornton's Steeling Christmas (1994)
- Been Caught Steelin (1996)
- Steel & Brass (1998)
- Outta The Blue (1999)
- Carpe Diem (2000)
- Just Me and My Pan (2002)
- Steel Drum Fever (2006)
- Pan For Punks...A Steelpan Tribute To The Ramones (2006)
- Pan Can Jam! (2007)
- Been Caught Steelin'...A Steelpan Tribute To Jane's Addiction (2008)
- Under The Caribbean Sun (2010)
- Pan On The North Shore...A Steelpan Tribute To Jack Johnson (2011)
- The Pan Police...A Steelpan Tribute To The Police (2012)
- Baked In The Sun...The 420 Pan Sessions (2013)
- Pan Rocks (2013)
- Pan Rocks...Pan Bangerz Ball (2015)
- Pan Rocks...Ska Punked! (2017)
- Pan Rocks...Project LA (2017)
- Pan Rocks Rush (2018)
