About Winston Simon
Lived 1930 – 1976 (aged 45–46). Winston Simon was a musician.
Winston "Spree" Simon (1930 – 18 April 1976) was a Trinidadian inventor, pioneer and musician of the steelpan.
Life
Simon was born in Laventille, Trinidad. He is credited with the invention of the Ping Pong steelpan instrument. Simon also was part of TASPO, the Trinidad All Steel Percussion Orchestra and visited Great Britain in 1951.
Winston "Spree" Simon worked closely with Anthony Williams, who later invented the fourth and fifth soprano pan. Simon also gave Bertie Marshall significant impulses for his work in developing harmonical tuning.
The American musician and composer Van Dyke Parks celebrated the life of Winston Simon in the song "Tribute to Spree" on his album Clang of the Yankee Reaper written and first recorded by Lord Kitchener.
Simon is said to have invented the 8-note ping pong in 1943 and the 14-note ping pong in 1946.
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Important facts
People in Winston Simon's life
Named in this biography and alive at the same time
Related people
Same field, nearest in time
Contemporaries
People whose lives overlapped Winston Simon's
Frequently asked questions
Who was Winston Simon?
Trinidad and Tobago musician
When was Winston Simon born?
Winston Simon was born in 1930 in Port of Spain.
When did Winston Simon die?
Winston Simon died on 18 April 1976.
What was Winston Simon's occupation?
Winston Simon was a musician.
What nationality was Winston Simon?
Winston Simon's recorded nationality: Trinidad and Tobago.
Sources & further reading
Cite this page
APA: Biography.guide. (2026). Winston Simon. https://biography.guide/winston-simon/
MLA: "Winston Simon." Biography.guide, https://biography.guide/winston-simon/.
Chicago: "Winston Simon." Biography.guide. https://biography.guide/winston-simon/.
Data last updated: 2026-09-20 · Spot an error? Report a correction.
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