Remembering Martin Douglas

Age 71, New York City
Passed away on March 31, 2020

This obituary is part of a series about people who have died in the coronavirus pandemic. Read about others here.

On summer nights in central Brooklyn, the roar of traffic gives way to the twinkle of steel-pan drums as musicians of all ages rehearse, improvise and compete in sidewalk lots.

Chances were good that if a steel-pan band was hitting its stride, Martin Douglas was close by.

For over two decades Mr. Douglas was a leader in Brooklyn’s steel band scene, playing his music everywhere, mentoring generations of young players and keeping steel-pan music a vibrant part of New York’s cultural life. He was the founder of Crossfire, a steel-pan band admired across the city and beyond, and president of the United States Steelband Association.

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