Artist page

Ellie Matt, a prominent figure in the Caribbean music scene, began his career in 1971 with the inception of National Carnival, inspired by Joey Lewis from Trinidad and Tobago. His first official composition, "Play Your Mass All Over Town for Carnival," was created in the same year. Ellie was introduced to music through the steel pan by his eldest brother, Joseph (Boy Blue) Esdaille. He received guitar lessons from the Bertie Brothers and Sammy Watts in St. Kitts, while he taught himself to play the keyboard and bass guitar. As an accomplished musical arranger, composer, band leader, and calypsonian, Ellie has traveled extensively throughout the Caribbean, North America, Europe, and Japan. He led his own band, "Ellie Matt and the GI’s Brass," to three successful brass aroma titles and performed in the Trinidad carnival for ten consecutive years. His band also played frequently in Antigua, St. Maarten, the British and US Virgin Islands, Toronto, New York City, and Aruba, winning numerous trophies for best visiting band in Vancouver, Trinidad, and the USVI. Ellie Matt has provided back-up music for renowned artists such as the Mighty Sparrow, Calypso Rose, Shadow, Arrow, King Short Shirt, Swallow, King Obstinate, David Rudder, Lord Nelson, and the late Lord Kitchener, among others. He served as the music director for a West Indian-based play called "Glory," employed by the London