Life's Refrain
The story of Hilary Borneo, noted steel drum musician, is an interesting one that has meandered from Trinidad & Tobago through most of the U.S., with some interesting coincidences where his past sometimes crossed paths with his future.
When Hilary was a small boy in Trinidad & Tobago in the 1950s, steel drum playing was not respected. In fact, it was still regarded as a rebellious activity.
“The plantation owners had banned drum playing because they were afraid that the Trinidadians were communicating in a secret language and sending messages,” explains Hilary. “The playing of the drums was associated with violence and low-lifes.”
By chance, a co-worker gave his father one of the metal drums made from a 55-gallon oil can. Seven-year-old Hilary liked the sound of the drum and had a natural talent for music. He quickly taught himself to play by ear.
By the time he was 16, his exceptional talent was obvious, and he was invited to come to the U.S. and tour with the Desperadoes Steel Orchestra. They played many large venues, including the prestigious Lincoln Center for the Performing Arts in Manhattan.
Hilary made his home in Brooklyn between travels.
He later played at Tanglewood (summer home of the Boston Symphony) with the Voices of Harlem and Carlos Santana, and once played at Woodstock.
In the 1990s, he did arrangements for a band based in New York, the Metro Steel Orchestra, for its performance in the Liberty Parade. Over the years he has played in many bands as well as solo performances. He currently plays with the Afro American Music Institute Jazz Band. He also teaches at the institute and has four dedicated students.
Though the steel drum is most often associated with a sunny Caribbean vacation—and there are worse things to be compared with—Hilary says that any type of music can be played on the drum, including classical.
Hilary’s unique style has been influenced by his many travels and his exposure to multiple genres of music. His exceptional ability to improvise effortlessly has helped him to have a lifelong career in the arts.
You may wonder how a world traveler like Hilary wound up in Pittsburgh. A friend invited him to the area in 1997 and he quite liked it.
He met his wife, Anne, in 2020 at church and they married in 2021. An amazing coincidence happened shortly after they met. You may recall that we ran an article about the couple in our Fall 2025 issue, regarding their purchase of the 1700s Wyckoff-Mason Log House. When Hilary met Anne, she was living next door to the historic home.
When he had lived in Brooklyn years earlier, there was an historic log house right around the corner from his apartment, built in 1652 and known as the Wyckoff Log House.
And yes, it was built by the same Wyckoff family that built the log home in Penn Hills! So when the home became available for purchase, it felt like destiny that they would buy it.
Another incredible coincidence was when Hilary learned that a good friend who had lived in Queens (also a native Trinidadian) was living just down the road in Morgantown. Elliott (Ellie) Manette also played the drums and was known as the “father of the modern steel drum.”
He taught at West Virginia University and was presented with an honorary doctorate for his work before his passing in 2018.
You can see Hilary Borneo in a live performance with Jazzmania, a featured band at the Pittsburgh Jazz Festival in September.
Visit pittsburghjazzfest.org for more information.
To hear a small sample of Hilary’s work, go to facebook.com/watch/?v=333441780798593.
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