Born in Woodbrook, Port of Spain, Tanker was considered one of the most original musicians that his country produced.
[citation needed] Tanker's mother was a dancer who was a descendant of Michel-Jean Cazabon, Trinidad's first great painter.
He followed this with music for Earl Lovelace's The Dragon Can't Dance and a production of Mustapha Matura's Playboy of the West Indies at the Lincoln Center.
[1] Tanker's classic works include "Sayamanda", "Basement Party", "Morena Osha", "Hosanna Higher", and "Forward Home".
Cousins in America including André Lassalle are representing the spirit of Andre Tanker and Cazabon.