Writer Nasser Khan has been reflecting on events and people significant in the shaping of T&T’s history, captured in song through the art form of the calypso. In the sixth of this series, History Through Calypso, Khan has chosen The Mighty Sparrow’s Memories from his 1973 album Sparrow Spectacular in which he recalled several notable cultural stalwarts.
Written by well known composer Winsford Devine (Joker), the original calypso invokes images of the legendary combo band leader Bertram Innis, known for his musical accompaniment as the August 1962 Independence Calypso King competition, which was won by the Lord Brynner, with Sparrow in second place, as well as George Bailey, the famous band leader who sadly passed away at the age of 35 in 1970.
In later versions, Sparrow included masmen Albert Moore and Jack Brathwaithe and Witco Desperadoes leader Rudolph Charles. As we reflect on Carnival 2013, we remember some other stalwarts of carnival in the areas of mas, steelband and calypso: George Bailey (1935-1970) began his Carnival career by designing for Invaders Steelband in 1954 and 1955, then formed his own band with brother Albert and a few others associates. Sir George so nicknamed due to his personality and the high standard of his art, captured six Band of the Year titles. During his 15 years as a Carnival bandleader, George Bailey’s presentations won the coveted Band of the Year Award in 1957, 1959, 1960, 1961, 1962, and 1969 and the People’s Choice Award ten times in 1957, 1959, 1960, 1961, 1962, 1966, 1967, 1968, 1969 and 1970. One can only imagine the number of titles he would have added to his tally had he not passed away at such a young age in 1970.
Aldwyn Roberts (1922-2000, better known as Lord Kitchener, Kitch and the Grandmaster) was born in Arima. His career lasted more than sixty years and he became a calypso superstar along with the Mighty Sparrow. Both men ruled the calypso world during the 1960s and 1970s. His calypsoes covered every imaginable topic, including social and political events. He recorded more than forty albums, winning the annual Carnival Road March a record ten times. His songs were very popular with steelbands and the steelband Renegades won most of their Panorama crowns playing his songs, arranged by Jit Samaroo.
Belmont’s Wayne Berkeley (1940-2011) first attracted national attention in 1965 when he designed the costume for the winner of the Jaycee’s Carnival Queen contest. In 1973 he burst onto the scene with the first of his nine winning Band of the Year productions, Secrets of the Sky (along with Bobby Ammon). His other eight winning productions, from a total of 18 bands spanning 1973 to 1997, were in 1974 and 1980 and then six consecutive victories from 1989 to 1994, surpassing George Bailey’s record wins from 1959-1963. He placed second on five occasions and third on three. Later, in 1998, he designed yet another winner—Amaranth: The Secret Garden, this time for band leader Earl Patterson.
Pat Bishop (1941-2011) was one of Trinidad and Tobago’s best known artistes and cultural people known for showing us off to the world. She arranged music or conducted for many steelbands including Fonclaire, Birdsong, Skiffle Bunch, Desperadoes Steel Orchestra, Trinidad All Stars, Phase II, and Renegades; and performed with Desperadoes at Carnegie Hall, New York, Brooklyn Academy of Music and the Philadelphia Academy of Music.
Laventille’s Rudolph Valentino Charles, also known as "The Hammer"
(1938-1985) gained respect and admiration as a steelpan innovator, tuner and community leader. He was the leader of the Desperadoes steel orchestra from 1961 to 1985 and was very active in the fight for better recognition of steelpan players and is the subject of David Rudder’s famous calypso The Hammer.
Selwyth (Sel) Duncan (1924-1983) and his orchestra was a household name in T&T in the era of golden music-for-dancing era or ‘combos’ as some were called, along with fellow musicians like John “Buddy” Williams, Syl Dopson, Clarence Curvan, Choy Aming, Fitz Vaughn Bryan, Ed Watson, Ray Sylvester, Frankie Francis, Watty Watkins and Mano Marcellin.
Legendary couple of mas Edmund (1923- ) and Lil Hart (1930-1991) captured a total of 5 Band of the Year titles and produced some 32 bands between 1961 and 1992. Today the Harts’ Band is the oldest surviving one in Trinidad and Tobago, in the large band category, over 50 years.
Stephen Lee Heung (1921- ), together with his wife Elsie Lee Heung (1925-2006) won the Band-of- the-Year title five times (1967, 1975, 1976, 1977, and 1983) including the hat trick and was runners-up seven times.
Laventille’s Bertram ‘Bertie’ Marshall (1936-2012) career spanned over five decades which earned him the status of the “tuner’s tuner” having contributed to the standardisation of the steelpan. He invented many new techniques and sounds as the main tuner for the Desperadoes Steel Orchestra. Their clean clear sound took them to ten Trinidad Carnival large band Panorama championship titles, more than any other steelband so far.
During his band-producing years from 1956 to 1988, Irvin McWilliams (1920-2007) provided T&T with some 32 spectacular presentations many of which were based on themes of Trinidad and Tobago, its history and its culture. His bands won the People’s Choice Award on five occasions (1971, 1972, 1977, 1978, and 1980) with an increasing number of female masqueraders. Band of the Year Titles: 1971 Wonders of Buccoo Reef; 1972 Anancy Story; 1978 Know Your Country.
Ken Morris (1924-1992) was an artist, a bandleader who became best known for his works and expertise in the art of using copper and bronze in Carnival costuming and in sculpting. Morris's work enjoys pride of place in numerous private and corporate collections, including the Central Bank of Trinidad and Tobago, Trinidad, Hilton, Puerto Rico Hilton, and St. Paul's Church in San Fernando.
Sundar Popo (1943-2000) is considered the grandfather of chutney and chutney soca. He popularised Chutney music, beginning with his 1969 hit Nana and Nani.
Harold “Sally” Saldenah (1925-1985) had a deep love of history and intensely researched his topics to ensure that he was able to re-create the moments in time in history in his mas making. His historical epics are renowned for their magnificence, colour and splendour of their costumes. In the first of his six “Band of the Year” titles productions “Imperial Rome, 44BC to 96AD” in 1955, he designed and created costumes using velvet, leather and copper to portray centurions, gladiators, Caesars and Nero, even his soldiers in short skirts to be as “real” as possible. Band of the Year Titles: 1955 Imperial Rome 44 BC to 96 AD; 1956 Norse Gods and Vikings; 1958 Lost City of Atlantis; 1964 Mexico 1519 to 1521; 1965 Pacific Paradise; 1968 El Dorado, City of Gold.
Garfield Blackman, Ras Shorty I (1941-2000) began his career as Lord Shorty in the early 1960s. His songs Indrani and Endless Vibrations are widely believed to be the first that introduced the soca beat, combining the rhythms of the calypso, soul and chutney music to create soca.
From John John in Laventille, Winston “Spree” Simon (1930-1976) is one of the earliest persons to contribute to the development of the steelpan and was the first to play simple tunes on the pan in public. At around the age of 15, he was already a popular youngster among the men in the John John band, Destination Tokyo, known for his skill at playing the steelpan. He then joined a band called Johannesburg Fascinators of Nelson Street, and emerged as one of the finest tuners. He was honoured in calypso by Lord Kitchener during Carnival 1975 with Tribute to Winston Spree, which became the road-march of that year.
Lewisito ‘Cito’ Velasquez (1928-2006) was a master in the art of wire-bending. His career started in the late 1940′s when he started bending wire for the mas presentations of two east Port of Spain steelbands, Fascinators and Bar Twenty. Most of his adult life was spent at his Barataria home/mas camp, designing, building and bringing out his wire-bending creations. He was responsible for most of the changes that took place in the Fancy Sailor Mas, an area he dominated for many years.
Other stalwarts in the carnival arena who have gone to the great beyond include Geraldo Vieira, the Mighty Duke, Lord Pretender, Roaring Lion, Andre Tanker, and many of an earlier era such as calypsonians Atilla the Hun, Lord Bryner, Lord Invader and the Roaring Lion.
LISTEN HERE: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Nffh-ECgoV0
Memories by Mighty Sparrow
Every year somebody dear
Give us cause to shed a tear
And mourn for they are gone
Now all that's left is a faint memory
Based on the theme of a strange melody
Still we must think of them
And recall their image with pride
Telling people from deep inside
This is dedicated to those who died
Bert Inniss I'll always remember
Jumping when a steelband pass, playing mas
Sugary peppery Bert, was never ever one for class
Bertram Inniss, wherever you are compere
Just for you I came out with real fire this year
Each and everyone I know
Some good day will have to go
Right back from where they came
Now good or bad we must try all the same
Not to be sad or heap scorn on their name
And every girl and boy who are sharing my point of view
I must tell you this song is just dedicated to memories
George Bailey I'll always remember
Jumping when a steelband pass, playing mas
Sugary peppery George was never ever one for class
George Bailey wherever you are compere
Just for you I came out with real fire this year
How many have known a friend
Playing mas down to the end
Who will never again
And though we play, now and then thoughts will stray
To that dear one who has long passed away
So for this Carnival when you're jumping up take a break
Try and take in this song I make
To remember for old times sake
Rudolph Charles I'll always remember
Jumping when a steelband pass, playing mas
Sugary peppery he was never ever one for class
Dear Rudy, where ever you are compere
Just for you we go give them real thunder this year
Nasser Khan is the author of the book “Profiles Heroes, Pioneers & Role Models of Trinidad & Tobago, Celebrating our 50 Years of Independence, 1962-2012” featuring some 370 Trinbagonians in over 20 areas of endeavour. He has also produced two poster/charts featuring 149 Fruits and Vegetables of T&T.