Written and Sung by Lord Melody (Fitzroy Alexander) in 1956 but fame came to the Americans Harry Belafonte and Nat King Cole. This was the period when America was in love with Calypso. They could not get enough. The situation today is different with most American only identifying the Caribbean region with Jamaica and are aware of Reggae and Bob Marley . Trinidad who, Trinidad what ... What a Shame!
From Calypso Dreams...comments from Gypsy, Sparrow, Lord Superior, Harry Belafonte and David Rudder...insightful and thought provoking. Please listen to Harry Belafonte's honesty and his reverence for calypsonians five minutes into this excerpt from "Calypso Dreams"
Who or what is a Calypso Curator? Now that is an interesting question because I am sure there are many institutions and persons around the world that have a collection of Calypso music. As a matter of fact many of the radio stations back home should have an invaluable collection of Calypso’s stack away somewhere. Most of the old classical stuff is on vinyl records and may have been put away in preference to that which is available on compact discs. Now we have Mr. Kenny Phillips of WACK radio and his WACK foundation which plans to document the history of the art form with a new website. His goal is to present discographies and biographies of the calypso world. This is an interesting development since this gentleman is considered to be the 'culture krazy' driving force of the south land and maybe of the the country presently. We wish him only success in this endeavor. You can link to the site here: http://www.wackfoundation.org/
I remember listening to Sprangalang's discourse on WACK radio 90.1 FM that broadcasts out of San Fernando; he was speaking about the vast volume of music that he possesses. Wack radio had a show that talked about all aspects of the Calypso culture; the show was wonderful since it was conducted like a casual Trini Lime but with serious issues discussed - 'calypso collections' was a topic of discussion for part of a show - they need to bring back that show. He also mentioned losing music that was saved on hard drives that went bad. However, I am certain that he too has a collection of vinyl and compact discs. So is Sprangalang a Calypso Curator? Who knows, that is a question that only Sprang could answer.
The discussion now turns to Mr. George Maharaj, a collector of Calypso music of our beloved land. Mr. Maharaj has written two books, Volumes 1 and 2 carrying the name “The Roots of Calypso”. Mr. Maharaj also has his own website that can be accessed at http://www.rootsofcalypso.com/ww.rootsofcalypso.com.
As a continuation of the discussion, he created two study groups, “Calypso College” and another one called “The Kaiso Breakfast Lime”. I am unaware of when these groups met/still meet or the topics of discussion and what was/is done with the information derived from those discussions.
Anyone can tell that Mr. Maharaj is very fond of the calypso culture of Trinidad and Tobago and as a result one would be curious in knowing what kind of collection he possesses. He claims to have a collection that is over 5,000 strong with a large segment of 78 rpm vinyl records. Whom do you know with such a vast collection of music and more importantly a collection of vinyl records similar to Mr. Maharaj’s? I don’t know of anyone but I do remember visiting the University of Upsala radio station that was located in Orange NJ, USA and was surprised to see the collection of Calypso records there. I saw records by Sparrow and Kitchener that I never knew existed. So yes, there are many people with a vast collection of Calypso music but how many persons with a similar collection in Trinidad and Tobago do you know? Maybe no one.
I don’t know of any entity in Trinidad and Tobago that is preserving the music and culture. Maybe Mr. Maharaj’s collection could be a good start. This collection should be digitized and the original vinyl recording put away. By the way, what about the recording companies that put out the original music? The master recordings must be stored some and probably that place is in the US. The government should act now and compile a national archive of our music. Mr. Maharaj is willing to deal with the government to ensure that his collection is protected and saved for future generations.
"Maya Angelou is an American writer well known for her many volumes of poetry and her memoirs, especially the volume I Know Why the Caged Bird Sings. She is little remembered for her early career as a dancer and calypso singer. Angelou had a Trinidadian grandfather and became familiar with calypso at home. During the early 1950s, she sang and danced calypsos in local nightspots in San Francisco. While on tour with a production of Porgy and Bess, she spent a period in Paris, where she was one of the first artists to perform calypsos in nightclubs. She returned to the United States at the height of the 1956-57 "calypso craze." In 1957 she recorded an album titled Miss Calypso and appeared in the Hollywood film Calypso Heat Wave (Columbia Pictures, 1957). She also headlined a calypso revue in Las Vegas and New York, performed in Harlem's Apollo Theater, regularly sang in nightclubs and appeared in Geoffrey Holder's 1957 Caribbean Calypso Festival in Brooklyn. In 1959 she gave up touring as a singer to pursue a career as a writer - Information from calypsoworld.org.
I have heard so many people lay claim to Soca and many have tried to emphasize that it is a fusion of American soul music and calypso - they are all wrong and clearly misrepresent the facts to suit their selfish desires! The soca music that we know today (Power Soca and Groovy Soca) is not the same that was created by Mr. Garfield Blackman aka Lord Shorty - the music has evolved but the base rhythm is the same.
Many have also declined to acknowledge that East Indian music in Trinidad had a very major impact on the creation of the music. No one outside of Trinidad was responsible for the creation of Soca. Who was? As I indicated in the opening paragraph and every Trinidadian knows that Garfield Blackman aka Lord Shorty (he later changed his name to Ras Shorty I) created the Soca beat and the rest of the World should know this to be a fact!
Ras Shorty I then Lord Shorty had a purpose when he was experimenting with blends of East Indian and Calypso music. As Shorty stated, (during the period 1969-1970) it was his hope that the music could bring both cultures together - Trinidadians of East Indian and African ancestry.
So what is Soca? In Ras Shorty I's words it is the combination of East Indian and African Rhythms which he termed a Dougla Rhythm. It was not American soul music but the "Soul or Trinidad, the soul of Calypso" that came out of the music.
Shorty stated that it all started with 'Indrani' when he first recorded this new beat. This album "Love Man" failed with poor sales figures. He was accused of trying to sound Indian when he used the Dholak on the ten recorded songs of that failed album. This is where the beat started and after the failure of this album he moved on to his next project named "Endless Vibrations". It is from this project that he incorporated the rhythmic structure from the Dholak and incorporated it with the drum set and gave it the name SOKAH. He stated that the "KAH" represented the East Indian finger print or as Shorty stated East Indian influence on the music. However as faith would record it Ivor Ferreira a journalist working for the Punch newspaper, misspelled Sokah in print using Soca. He stated that he did not mind the error in spelling because it was all about the rhythmic structure of the music and not about the spelling. He wanted it to be known that it is was about the 'soul of calypso' and not Soul and Calypso.
Regarding the new direction the music he stated that in 1977 when Maestro sang Savage and Kitchener sang Sugar Bum Bum, he knew that it was time to step away from the change that was taking place. He created the music but never envisioned it going it this direction. He knew that something had to be done and as a result he went ahead with his new project taking the music along the path he wanted to see it go.
The birth of Jamoo music (Jehovah’s music) which is the soul of calypso blessed with the spirit of God in the music came to fruition. This is what he termed born again Soca. I have included the 1995 interview from the G.B.T.V CultureShare Archives that was sourced from YouTube. Please watch this video take note of the words of the creator of the music. Never again should any Trinidadian put up with the nonsense claims by others regarding Ras Shory I's creation of Sokah the music that we know today as Soca.
Ras Shorty I died on July 12, 2000 of multiple myeloma (a type of bone marrow cancer). Now sit back and listen to Ras Shorty I (the creator of Soca) tell you how it all happened:
Addendum:
Now after reading the article above and watching the video it is apparent that the article was written with a clear bias to Shorty as the creator and innovator of Calypso into Soca. Most people tend to believe the claim that Shorty created Soca. We do know that he gave a class of music the name Sokah that was eventually misquoted as Soca and the name stuck. So the major question is this, is the music that Shorty experimented and created so many years ago the Soca that we know today? In other words what are the elements that make a song a Soca song and can you identify those traits in the music Shorty created and named Soca?
Dimitry Subotsky puts forward an interesting case for King Wellington as the person who impacted the move from Calypso to Soca. Here is a snippet from an article that appeared in the Trinidad Guardian newspaper: "I tried to think of what records I had heard from the early to mid-’70s that stood out as being different, and my mind was drawn to two particular albums by the same calypsonian. Examining his prior work led me to believe that this man played an important part, if not the most important part in the development of calypso into soca. That man was King Wellington."
Here is another paragraph from the article: "The influences of American soul and funk, giving space to the musicians, the prominence of the electric bass, the extended instrumental play-outs and the move away from the big band sound are all key elements of early soca, and they are evident in the recordings of King Wellington more prominently and earlier than that of any other artist.
We will take a look at these and other matters of significance regarding the move from Calypso to Soca and the many claims to ownership regarding the creating of this music genre.
Now listen to the man and his music:
Though the esteemed English imprint Honest Jon's has devoted a number of compilations to documenting the thriving West Indian music scene of the `30s, `40s, and `50s, MARVELLOUS BOY: CALYPSO FROM WEST AFRICA stands out insofar as it documents calypso's transatlantic passage from the West Indies to Africa. These recordings were made in Sierra Leone, Nigeria, Ghana, and a number of other West African countries in the `40s and `50s. Their propulsive rhythms and playful melodies are a precursor to the driving Afro-beat sound that would emerge in subsequent decades.
Trinidad and Tobago's favorite calypsonian Lord Melody demonstrates exactly why he is the lord of melody in this collection of songs that includes "Crazy Love" and "Dr. Make Your Love." Two songs, "Cowboy Sparrow" and "Sparrow's Sister," are testament to the professional provocation of rival calypsonian Mighty Sparrow. Melody's vocals are backed by the Frankie Francis Orchestra and the March of Dimes Quartette. "Cowboy Sparrow" was reissued in 2000 on Calypso Awakening from the Emory Cook Collection (SFW40453).
COUNTRY(S) Trinidad and Tobago
CULTURE GROUP(S) African Caribbean
KEYWORD(S) Calypso (Music
INSTRUMENT(S) Vocals
YEAR OF RECORDING 1957
RECORD LABEL Cook Records
SOURCE ARCHIVE Smithsonian Center for Folklife and Cultural Heritage
CREDITS Artist Lord Melody.
"These two CDs from Rounder Records' Alan Lomax Collection together make up the complete recording of the Calypso At Midnight Town Hall concert given in New York City on Dec. 21, 1946. The concert was a sampling of many of the styles of calypso popular in Trinidad at the time, and was given as calypso was beginning to make its way into American popular music, offering the American audience an introduction into its variety. Both the recorded introductions, supplemented by the superb liner notes, help one to appreciate the different pieces by putting them into context." http://www.rambles.net/va_calypsoX2.html
Introduction To The Concert - Alan Lomax / Calypso Invasion - The Duke Of Iron And Chorus / Introduction To Stone Cold Dead In The Market - Alan Lomax / Stone Cold Dead In The Market - Macbeth The Great And Chorus / Dialogue On The Trinidadian Harp - Alan Lomax, Macbeth The Great / Introduction To Ugly Woman - Alan Lomax, The Duke Of Iron / Ugly Woman - The Duke Of Iron / Introduction To Rum And Coca-Cola - Alan Lomax, Lord Invader / Rum And Coca-Cola - Lord Invader And Chorus / Introduction To Do Lai Do - Alan Lomax, Macbeth The Great / Do Lai Do - Macbeth The Great And Chorus / Introduction To Three Friends Advice - Alan Lomax, The Duke Of Iron / Three Friends Advice - The Duke Of Iron / Introduction To Happy Land Of Canaan - Alan Lomax / Happy Land Of Canaan - Lord Invader, Duke Of Iron And Chorus / Introduction To Exploring - Alan Lomax, Macbeth The Great / Exploring [Exploiting] - Macbeth The Great And Chorus / Introduction To Man Smart, Woman Smarter - Alan Lomax, Macbeth The Great / Man Smart, Woman Smarter - Macbeth The Great And Chorus / Introduction To Tie-Tongue Baby - Alan Lomax, Lord Invader / Tie-Tongue Baby - Lord Invader And Chorus / Introduction To Edward VIII - The Duke Of Iron / Edward VIII - The Duke Of Iron / Macbeth The Great And Chorus.
Frederick Wilmoth Hendricks (November 25, 1895 in Port of Spain, Trinidad and Tobago – August 6, 1973, New York), best known as Wilmoth Houdini, was a prominent calypsonian. He made numerous recordings from the 1920s through the 1940s, also sometimes using the names Wilmoth Hendricks Edgar, Leon Sinclair, and King Houdini
Popular or famous Wilmoth Houdini songs: Poor But Ambitious, Devil Behind Me, Tiger Tom Kill Tiger Cat, Dambalay Santapie and Rat. More music songs African Love Call, Arima Tonight, Sangre Grande Tomorrow Night, Bandsman Shooting Case, Black But Sweet. More music songs Cipriani's and Bradshaw's Death, Cooks in Trinidad, Glorius Centenary, Honey I'm Bound to Go, I Need a Man, Mickey Cipriani's Career. More music songs No Mo' Bench and Board, Song No. 99, Stop Coming and Come, Sweet Like a Honey Bee, Sweet Papa Willie, Teacher Nose Gay the Shouter. More music songs That Big Black Woman.
The original design of the National Carnival and Entertainment Centre (NCEC). In April 2007 Prime Minister Patrick Manning said, construction of the proposed centre came to a halt because the design was being reviewed. http://guardian.co.tt/news/general/2009/11/15/carnival-centre-next-list.
What can I say other than Prime Minister Patrick Manning is having fun manipulating the populace as he dips into the treasury for the many land marks that his government is erecting around the country. Well the only problem is that Point Fortin's Hospital still can't seem to get off the ground. Recently the PM, during one of his walk about pre-election posturing, let the fete promoters know that the government will not be handing over any of the sporting facilities for any fete promotion or Cultural endeavors aka Power Soca and Groovy Soca competitions. This was said after the government had turned down the Promoters regarding the leasing of land to erect facilities with private funds to host these shows. The promoters hit back with basically you told us not to build because the government is building facilities that could be used for this purpose (for a price of course). The response from the government - quiet, nothing nada!
Then like a Knight in shining armor and armed with the press at his side enters Patos who held a press conference "last night at the newly- commissioned National Academy for the Performing Arts, to announce that the 15,000-capacity Queen’s Park Savannah Carnival Centre is the next project on the government’s development agenda. Mr. Manning emphasized that his announcement was aimed at silencing “detractors.” Italics -http://guardian.co.tt/ .
Talk about Politricks and the games that our PM is playing with our brains! All the PM needed to do was simply apologize for the delay in the completion of the Savannah structure and inform the public that as soon as he pumps a few millions of barrels of oil from the ocean the complex will be completed with the help of the Chinese. Then in the same breath announce that the government will provide facilities to the promoters for the upcoming bacchanalia season.
This man has seen it fit to add a performing arts center in the PM's residence but put a stop due to "design problems" for this very important complex. Now don't get me wrong when I say important when we need hospitals and hospital beds around the nation. This structure has already cost the tax payers millions of dollars and it is incomplete and an eyesore in the Savannah that was handed over to the government for public use (I don't think they were supposed to erect any permanent structure on the land).
Even if we argue that the government has its priorities all wrong one must admit that this facility (not structure eh) is needed. You can complain all you want because the bottom line is this government is not asking anyone for permission to do what it considers to be part of its 20/20 vision plans. Yuh could fret and steups all yuh want Patos is the man for now and what Patos says is religion!
Hey we don't have Pan 24/7 but we can add a little sweetness for all "Barrel Lovers". Enjoy Sforsata playing David Rudder's Calypso Music. Remember to stop the radio player (Vibes Connect on the right side bar) before playing the sweet pan music.
Shurwayne Winchester is definitely one of the driving forces of the Caribbean. This time he's back with his latest track, "Murdah!" This song hasn't been posted on YouTube yet so you viewers are go... http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ruXS5fFgH0I
Trinidadian Kelwyn Hutcheon sings Ballad in the styling of Johnny Hartman and Arthur Prystock. He is accompanied by the Felix Roach Acoustic Jazz Ensemble and renders a tender duet with Tricia Kelshall
Kelwyn Hutcheon has been singing in public for nearly 50 years, once having the title "Boy Wonder of Trinidad" on a 40s Radio Trinidad programme. He knows how to deliver a tune better than most and, in this selection of 13 popular standards, demonstrates how with an expressive, silky croon. Produced with lush clarity by Simeon L. Sandiford — there are extensive sleeve notes about the recording process — and accompanied impeccably by Felix Roach’s Jazz Ensemble, But Beautiful is, indeed, a beautifully recorded collection of nostalgic classics: Gershwin’s Someone To Watch Over Me — a duet with the impressive Tricia-Lee Kelshall, once of soca band Second Imij; Gershwin’s Our Love Is Here To Stay and My One And Only Love; Rodgers and Hart’s My Funny Valentine; Noble’s The Very Thought of You. And there’s a smattering of enjoyable instrumentals as well: Autumn Leaves, with Mona Lisa and Wavegiven local treatment by Anthony Rose’s pretty steelpan. A diverting assortment of romantic songs, performed with poise, produced with polish: perfect for candle-lit evenings and lonely hi-fi buffs alike. [MM - Caribbean Beat]
Track Listing:
But Beautiful
Mona Lisa
Corcovado
Funny
Autumn Leaves
Someone To Watch Over Me
The Very Thought Of You
My One And Only Love
Wave
Our Love Is Here To Stay
My Funny Valentine
Mona Lisa (Instrumental)
But Beautiful (Reprise)
Kelwyn Hutcheon's music can be purchased from the eCAROH website at the source link below:
Today Tian Winter was introduced to Trinidad and Tobago on Wack Radio 901FM. He was on Damion Melville's show D'Lime. He received a very warm reception from the listening audience and looks like he has a future in this business. When I listened to the young man singing in the studio he immediately reminded me of Sherwyn Winchester. Now that is excellent company to be in my friend. Use the link below to read more about Tian, remember his name because it looks like he has what it takes to make waves in the ocean of soca stars.
"TIAN WINTER is a 24 year old Antiguan born artist, highly motivated and confident that he is capable of generating further and increased demand for Antigua and Caribbean music from international audiences. He has a unique ability of infusing popular and R&B singing styles into contemporary Caribbean rhythms creating a musical product that excites most listeners into dancing and celebration. In 2009, Tian placed his stamp on Antigua's Carnival and made it clear that he was indeed one of the brightest young artists on the scene in the Caribbean. In April, he hit the recording studios again with some of the Caribbean's finest and this time he was joined by Trinidadian Soca Diva Patrice Roberts to record the smash hit "Bump and Grind". Other songs which took Antigua by storm include "Gimme a Taste", "Baby I" and"Soca Rebels". The rest is now written in the history books."
Go to the link below to read the rest of the article on Tian. The link gives you an opportunity to learn about the artist and listen to his music.
It is time that we address the need for a Carnival City!
This is one of those unusual circumstances where I have to stand by the Prime Minister and agree with his decision not to hand over the Sporting facilities to fete promoters for the upcoming Carnival season. Yes Mr. Prime Minister, this is a private enterprise that benefits the promoters who will not address the repairs of the facilities after the fetes. We cannot permit the destruction (sorry but that is what actually takes place) of the facilities when gay abandon, due to alcohol consumption and the dizzing vibrations of Soca music, takes hold of the feting patrons - this "Carnival Jumbie" takes hold for a few hours and that could result is hundred of thousands of dollars of repairs funded by the tax payer.
Now on the other hand, there seems to be a double standard and this view was expressed by Sprangalang during a broadcast on Wack radio 901FM on 11/11/09. Sprangalang who is a culture connosiour without equal, spoke about the government's denial of the facilities to the promoters. He noted that the same complaint of destruction of facilities was done by the very government that constructed temporary structures on the running track and soccer field recently - is there a double standard here?
The government is constructing many facilities for the Arts and Culture but these may not be conducive to the feting nature of the public during the Carnival season. There is a need for a Carnival City! The administration has spent so much money on things that "John Public" may not be able to be a part of.... who knows what it will cost to rent the new facilities? To date there has been a press release indicating a fee schedule and availability of the facilities. The Government should meet with the people responsible for Carnival and that includes, the CDC, TUCO, CPF (Soca Monarch Stake holders), Pan Trinbago and the Fete Promoters to discuss their needs - this should have been done 'donkey years' now. Land should be designated for a Carnival City that provides year round facilities for Calypso shows, Steelpan performances, Fetes or whatever needs are addressed by the key players in the industry.
Take note of Hollywood and Bollywood as noted in the comments that addressed the article link fro the Trinidad Guardian newspaper provided below. Is it not time that we respect these people that drive an industry that we love to boast as being the best in the World? Come on Mr. Prime Minister listen to your people and do the right thing! Blog Post originated from an article in the Trinidad Guardian:Fete promoters making $$ on citizens’ heads The Trinidad Guardian
This is the station for Barrel Lovers broadcasting from Trinidad and Tobago. No, it is not sponsored by Pan Trinbago but is a subsidiary of Wackradio 901FM. This site provides loads of pan music from the source - in the pan yards and countless panorama recordings - did I mention that it is pan in yuh pwefen 24/7? Well, what are you waiting on? Go ahead, listen and be impressed... Become a fan! Kenny Phillips is connected to the culture pulse of the country and you should know that this endeavor is a labor of love. You can become a part of this history making enterprise by sponsoring segments of the programming. Contact Kenny at: kmpmusic@gmail.com.
Controversy and Carnival always seem to go hand in hand especially when it comes to the outcome of judging the various competitions. Having said that, I would like to add one topic for discussion that should not be controversial or be a contentious subject to be judged by the public. I don't wish to add to the bacchanal but the current arrangement that has the carnival dates linked to the religious calender seems to be a bit bit outdated now that the country has matured as an independent state. It is my opinion that a fixed date for the carnival celebration (one that extends the season) would be welcomed by everyone without question.
Have you ever wondered why the Carnival dates are fixed to the Lenten dates? There are many articles online regarding Carnival and most point to the Greeks who started it all. We now have to ask ourselves how we ended up with the dates set to the Monday and Tuesday preceding Ash Wednesday. The church and carnival have nothing in common so why fix the dates based on the Roman Catholic religious calendar? Crop Over in Barbados is set for late July into early August and it has no connection to any religious calendar. No one will question the financial viability of the Carnival season is for the Calypso, Soca and Chutney artistes along with the Band leaders and Steel Orchestras. Taking this into consideration, wouldn't it be better to have a fixed date for the festivities that the participants could properly carter to year after year?
Carnival is an industry that generates income for everyone involved in the business of the festival. Some years the Carnival season is very short and this is not financially viable for those who depend on the festival for the majority of their income. A short season means that the calypsonians who rely on attendance to the tents will miss out on generous sums of income due to the limited time for the season. What is your opinion about a fixed date for the Carnival celebrations and what is the set date that you think is best suited for Trinidad and Tobago? Why can't we separate the Church from the festival? It would be a financial bounty for the country and everyone else who can earn income from the activities of the festival. However, doing so may anger the religious zealots. I am certain that this has been considered before but I believe it should be revisited for consideration – now is the right time to get it done. I personally believe that a date in April would be best suited for everyone. The Government and those involved in the planning of the carnival celebrations should be able to come up with fixed dates that would be agreeable to everyone – this would be a move in the right direction.
Well I guess most of you surfing the World Wide Web for calypso music must have come across some very interesting sites. Recently I was looking up information about calypso during the formative years and came across some interesting sites. One name that kept showing up was the Smithsonian. The link provided at the end of this note takes you to the Smithsonian Folkways Recording site. At that site you can look up information about Lord Melody, Lord Invader and many of the other ‘Griots’ of that period and listen to the recordings of these musical heroes. Even better is the fact that you can purchase copies of the recordings and start a collection with music from some of the greatest ambassadors of the art form.
If you have already taken the opportunity to purchase music from this source or some other site, please don't hesitate to leave a comment about your experience. Giving others the opportunity to find these classic tunes is something that we should share. Trinidadians need to take a look back at our rich heritage and compare the artists and substance of the music to the current crop of singers today. Do you believe that the calypsonians today have the talent of those who came before? Do you think that the current Soca artists can create a calypso of substance or has the jump and wine mentality ripped the heart out of the calypso art form?
This is Classic Blakie (Carlton Joseph) introduced by Sprangalang as the "original rude boi" of calypso - just listen to Blakie laugh! He originally went by the name of Warlord Blakie and was 72 years old when he died (November 3, 1932 - January 6, 2005). If you look closely (as the video plays) you will see David Rudder and Gypsy singing back up - this is vintage stuff folks!
The following was featured in the Caribbean Beat website:
"When Carlton Joseph, best known by his calypso sobriquet of Warlord Blakie, passed away early in 2005, Trinidad Carnival was ramping up to its wildest frenzy. It was an appropriate season for Blakes to slip away; his best-known calypso, Steelband Clash, celebrated an older form of Carnival that, for all its violent joy, had itself already slipped away. Blakie was 72 when he died, a number that must have come as a shock to his fans and friends who adored his boundless energy and high-power performances.
David Rudder once described Blakie as “a street-smart urban warlord,” and “one of the original rude bwoys.” He was also one of the last calypso giants, a reminder of the glory days of the 1950s, when Sparrow and Blakie (along with a very few others) raised calypso to a creative level never seen before.
Blakie’s biggest hits — Steelband Clash (which won the Road March title in 1954), the hauntingly beautiful Maria (which won another in 1962), and the shamelessly bawdy Hold the Pussy — were recorded in the 1950s and 60s, but Blakie remained a favourite at Port of Spain venues like the Mas Camp Pub well into the 21st century, where his inimitable, devilish laugh became a trademark.
He was revered by his fellow calypsonians — Rudder not least among them. In fact, one of my most treasured memories of Rudder is his face lit with fierce joy on that night in 1994 when he, Gypsy, and Prowler sang backup for Blakie on Hold the Pussy. That concert, which was recorded, videotaped, and released on both video and CD under the title Raw Kaiso, is probably your best chance to experience the Warlord in his fullest glory, although a CD collection of live performances, Lord Blakie’s Vintage Music, has just been released as well.
Over the years, Blakie took several swings at Sparrow in song; Sparrow never responded. But in a radio interview shortly after Blakie passed away, Sparrow noted that he remembered Blakie’s laugh most of all. Oh, that laugh! But does anyone dare to ask what Blakie was laughing at? If the author of Steelband Clash remains something of an enigma, that laugh is the heart of the mystery. If you could hear it! Surely he was laughing at some truly cosmic jest; nothing less could possibly have inspired that long, rising tide of all-too-knowing, slightly sinister merriment.
Myself, I can’t help wondering if Blakie was laughing about Jean and Dinah. For many years there have been whispers: Blakie and Sparrow both get in trouble in the early 1950s and end up in jail. They become pals, they collaborate on something that may have eventually turned into Jean and Dinah. Sparrow gets out of jail first, and the rest is history. I have never seen the slightest proof that any part of this . . ."
Pan Enthusiasts aka Barrel Lovers please take note of the songs listed here. This list will expand as new music is released for the upcoming Carnival season 2010. Get to know these songs because your favorite steelband may just be playing one of them. The winds of change have already swept through Pantrinbago and just maybe we may be treated to something a little different this upcoming season. So tune in to the radio or get out there and purchase the music, listen, absorb and get ready for a 'pantastic' season. Songs/Music: "Ah Love Meh Pan" sung by Crazy; composed by Terry Figuera;lyrics by David Goddard "Battle Zone" sung by Anslem Douglas - music by Edwin Pouchet.
"Breakdown" sung by Keith "Designer" Prescott; composed by Kevin Browne; lyrics by Kevin Browne "Flash" sung by Frosty Brooks; composed by Muguel Reyes
"De Last Band" sung by Peter D’Royce - composed by Miguel Reyes "Doh Meddle Wid Me" sung by Kurt Allen, composed by Earl Brooks, Lyrics by Alvin Daniel "Flash" sung by Frosty Brooks, composed by Miguel Reyes "For Carnival"- sung by Crazy - composed by Orthneil Bacchus
"Music In My Ear" sung by Keith ‘Designer’ Prescott - composed by Miguel Reyes "Musical Fire" sung by Anslem Douglas, music by Atiba Sherwood, lyrics by Gerard Brian William & Alvin Daniel "Out on the Greens" sung by K.V. Charles; composed by Nigel Diaz; lyrics by Amrit Samaroo "Pandemic" sung by Shanaqua, composed by Gary Codrington, lyrics by Alvin Daniel "Pan and Calypso" sung by Crazy, composed by Nigel Diaz, lyrics by Amrit Samaroo
“Pan Injustice” sung by ‘Tunapuna Scanty’ - composed by Miguel Reyes
"Pan in D Land" sung by Hayden Lynch; composed by Hayden Lynch "Pan in de Mas" lyrics and vocals by David Michael Rudder, Composed by Pelham Goddard
“Pan on Fire” sung by DeFosto - composed by Winston Scarborough "Pan Pushers" sung by Xposer; composed by Munroe Moses "Pan Revolution" sung by Gia Telesford; composed by Carlyle Roberts "Pong It"sung by Carwash, composed by Dunstan 'Carwash' Lawrence "PowPow, DoiDoi (Bad Boy)" sung by Mark Roberts; composed by Mark Roberts "Rewind" sung by Destra Garcia; composed by Ken "Professor" Philmore and Mark Loquan, lyrics by Destra Garcia. "Scratch Attack" sung by Crazy; composed by Kurt Edwards “Smooth Sailing” sung by DeFosto - composed by Winston Scarborough "Somewhere in Tobago" sung by Steve Sealy; composed by Avis Bruce and Amrit Samaroo “Something Special” sung by Derrick Seales - music by Brian “Bean” . "Spreading Hands” sung by ‘Oscar Benjamin’ - composed by Kenrick & Kenneth Headley; lyrics by Anthony "Lexo" Alexis "Surrender" sung by Destra Garcia; composed by Ken "Professor" Philmore and Mark Loquan; lyrics by Destra Garcia "Time"sung by Keith "Designer" Prescott; composed by Alston Jack; lyrics by Samantha Jack & Chris Jack "Trinbago Ting"sung by 'Chucky'; composed by Kurt Edwards "Two Sticks in Meh Hand" sung by Percil Nock-Boyce; composed by Percil Nock-Boyce
"When Steel Talks" - composed by Winston Scarborough and sung by Crazy "Wild and Free" sung by Kadeem "Rasta Grammy" Alleyne; composed by Andre White and Kadeem Alleyne "You Too Hot" sung by Xposer; composed by Monroe Moses "Young Arrangers" - sung by 'Chuky; composed by Carlan "Panman" Harewood; lyrics by Kevin Browne
Source:
http://whensteeltalks.ning.com/forum/topic/show?id=2534462:Topic:39727&xgs=1 (Songs can be heard at this link).
When Steel Talks is dedicated to pan worldwide. It is an initiative designed to promote the history and culture of the Steelband globally.
"Visually impaired calypsonian Almanac passed away at around 9 p.m. on Friday succumbing to liver cancer while at Ward 24 at the Port of Spain General Hospital.
Almanac’s calypso portfolio includes ’Almanac’s Dream’, ’Wabeen Government’, ’Keep Your Business to Yourself,’ ’Leather Haunting,’ ’Grandfather’s Advice,’ ’The Buy Local Argument,’ ’False Prophets,’ ’Save the Family,’ ’If It was Me,’ ’Build A Better World’ and ’Sweet Exotic Soca.
I remember listening to Sprangalang's discourse on WACK radio 90.1 FM that broadcasts out of San Fernando; he was speaking about the vast volume of music that he possesses. Wack radio had a show that talked about all aspects of the Calypso culture; the show was wonderful since it was conducted like a casual Trini Lime but with serious issues discussed - 'calypso collections' was a topic of discussion for part of a show - they need to bring back that show. He also mentioned losing music that was saved on hard drives that went bad. However, I am certain that he too has a collection of vinyl and compact discs. So is Sprangalang a Calypso Curator? Who knows, that is a question that only Sprang could answer.
The discussion now turns to Mr. George Maharaj, a collector of Calypso music of our beloved land. Mr. Maharaj has written two books, Volumes 1 and 2 carrying the name “The Roots of Calypso”. Mr. Maharaj also has his own website that can be accessed at
Maya Angelou 
.gif)
Mona Lisa
