We continue to read about how the art form of calypso developed over the years. Trinidad and Tobago is a very unique society and many have tried to take away from our accomplishments. However, the truth can be found in many recorded historical data which can and will be disputed but never refuted.
Just take a look at the dates below (Did you know the following) with special reference to the facts presented about the first instrumental and first vocal recordings of calypso. These are important dates and, I am certain, you will appreciate the fact that Trinidad is really "the well" from which calypso sprung and blossomed to what it is today.
This blog has presented a list of calypso monarch winners and additionally, we add another important lists - Leggos and Road March winners. In continuing with the presentation of historical data we list the winners of the famous 'Road March Competition' as it relates to Trinidad and Tobago for what was known as 'Leggos' and now called 'Road March'.
Did you know the following:
- Calypsos were first sung in French Creole then a mix of Patois and English
- The Rhythm of Calypso (beat) is done in 2/4, 4/4 time (see "Meter" at this link for an explanation of Rhythm (beats in the music)
- First ever Calypso instrumental recording was done in 1912 by Lovey's orchestra.
- First ever vocal Calypso recording was made in 1914 when the "Duke of Iron" teamed up with Jules Sims.
- First ever Calypso tent opened in Port-of-Spain in 1921 was the "Railway Douglas Tent".
- First ever female to sing in a calypso tent was "Lady Trinidad" in 1935.
- First ever female Calypsonian to cut a record was "Lady Trinidad" in 1937.
- First ever "Young Brigade Tent" opened in 1947 by 24 year-old Lord Kitchener, featuring Lord Melody, Mighty Spoiler, Mighty Viking.
If you always wanted to have a list of the Calypso Monarchs of Trinidad and Tobago and had difficulty locating the information then help is here! If anyone has information to add to list please leave a comment or send an email to ananda2456@gmail.com. The record shows that both Sparrow and Chalkdust won the crown eight (8) times followed by Stalin with 5 victories, Duke and Cro Cro with 4, Lord Melody with 3 victories, Atilla the Hun, Striker, Spoiler, Singing Sandra, Sugar Aloes and Luta with 2 wins each. Then we have the rest with one victory each.
Sparrow: 1956, 1960, 1962, 1963, 1972, 1973, 1974 and 1992
Chalkdust: 1976, 1977, 1981, 1989, 1993, 2004, 2005and 2009
Please check the list for the information that you desire - it is an interesting list but please note that the first year listed is 1939. If anyone has information about the start of this competition I would be happy to post it on this blog. Apparently 1939 is the first year of the Calypso Monarch Competition and the Growling Tiger (Neville Marcano) won the competition with a song entitled "The Labour Situation in Trinidad And Tobago." (Wikipedia).
1939 - Growling Tiger (The Labour Situation in Trinidad And Tobago)
1940 - Roaring Lion (Rise And Fall Of The British Empire)
1941 - Mighty Destroyer (Adolf Hitler)
1942 - No Carnival No Carnival
1943 - No Carnival No Carnival
1944 - No Carnival No Carnival
1945 - No Carnival No Carnival
1946 - Attila The Hun (Mail Report)
1947 - Attila The Hun (Million Dollar Jail)
1948 - Mighty Spoiler (Royal Wedding)
1949 - Lord Melody (Glory Mama Glory)
1950 - No Competition
1951 - Lord Melody (Jonah and The Bake)
1952 - No Competition
1953 - Spoiler (Bed Bug)
1954 - Melody (Second Spring)
1955 - Spoiler (Pick Sense Out of Nonsense)
1956 - Sparrow (Jean and Dinah)
1957 - Pretender (Que Sera Sera)
1958 - Striker (Don't Blame the PNM/Cant Find A Job To Suit Me)
1959 - Striker (Ban the Hoola Hoop/Comparison)
1960 - Sparrow (Ten to One is Murder/Mae Mae)
1961 - Dougla (Lazy Man/Split Me in Two)
1962 - Sparrow (Sparrow Come Back Home/Federation)
1963 - Sparrow (Dan is the Man/Kennedy)
1964 - Bomber (Joan and James/Bomber's Dream)
1965 - Sniper (Portrait of Trinidad/More Production)
1966 - Terror (Pan Jamboree/Last Year's Happiness)
1967 - Cypher (Last Elections/If the Priest Could Play)
1968 - Duke (What is Calypso/Social Bacchanal)
1969 - Duke (Black is Beautiful/One Foot Visina)
1970 - Duke (Brotherhood of Man/See Through)
1971 - Duke (Mathematical Formula/Melvine & Yvonne)
1972 - Sparrow (Drunk and Disorderly/Rope)
1973 - Sparrow (School Days/Same Time, Same Place)
1974 - Sparrow (We Pass That Stage/Miss Mary)
1975 - Kitchener (Tribute to Spree Simon/Fever)
1976 - Chalkdust (Three Blind Mice/Ah Put on Meh Guns Again)
1977 - Chalkdust (Juba Dubai/Shango Vision)
1978 - Calypso Rose (Her Majesty/I Thank Thee)
1979 - Black Stalin (Caribbean Unity/Play One)
1980 - Relator (Food Prices/Take a Rest)
1981 - Chalkdust (Ah Can't Make/Things That Worry Me)
1982 - Scrunter (Lick-e-Thing/The Will)
1983 - Crusoe (Don't Cry Now/South Africa)
1984 - Penguin (We Living in Jail/Soft Man)
1985 - Black Stalin (Isms Schisms/Wait Dorothy)
1986 - David Rudder (The Hammer/Bahia Girl)
1987 - Black Stalin (Mr. Pan Maker/Burn Dem)
1988 - Cro Cro (Three Bo Rats/Corruption in Common Entrance)
1989 - Chalkdust (Chauffeur Wanted/Carnival is The Answer)
1990 - Cro Cro (Political Dictionary/Party)
1991 - Black Stalin (Bright Side/Ah Feeling to Party)
1992 - Sparrow (Both of Them/Survival or Man will survive) (second song correction by Jeron Josep)
1993 - Chalkdust (Kaiso in de Hospital/Misconceptions)
1994 - Luta; Delamo (tie) (Good Driving, Licensed Firearm / Trinity Is Meh Name,
Not Going Down D'Road)
Not Going Down D'Road)
1995 - Black Stalin (In Times/Sundar Popo)
1996 - Cro Cro (Dey Look for Dat/Support Commentary Calypso)
1997 - Gypsy (Little Black Boy/Rhythm of the Nation)
1998 - Mystic Prowler (Look Beneath The Surface/Vision of TnT in the Year 2010)
1999 - Singing Sandra (Song for Healing/Voices From The Ghetto)
2000 - Shadow (What's Wrong With Me/Scratch Meh Back)
2001 - Denyse Plummer (Nah Leaving/Heroes)
2002 - Sugar Aloes (Contribution, Jubilation)
2003 - Singing Sandra (Who The Bell Tolls, Ancient Rhythms)
2004 - Chalkdust (Cro Cro for Sale, Trinidad in Cemetary)
2005 - Chalkdust (I in Town Too Long, Ah Doh Rhyme)
2006 - Luta (Check The Foundation, Kaiso Kaiso)
2007 - Cro Cro (Nobody Eh Go Know)
2008 - Sugar Aloes (Reflections)
2009 - Chalkdust (Ah Not In Dat)
2010 - Kurt Allen (Too Bright)
2011 - Karen Asche (Be Careful What Yuh Ask For & Uncle Jack)
2012 - Duane O'Connor - The Hunt is On, Long Live Calypso
2013 - Eric Taylar (Pink Panther) - Travel Woes, Crying In The Chapel
2011 - Karen Asche (Be Careful What Yuh Ask For & Uncle Jack)
2012 - Duane O'Connor - The Hunt is On, Long Live Calypso
2013 - Eric Taylar (Pink Panther) - Travel Woes, Crying In The Chapel
Information for this post was obtained from several sites including Wikipedia, Toronto Lime and Island Mix up to and including 2009.
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Top 100 Calypsos of the 20th Century
Rank|Tune & Composer
1. Progress - King Austin (Austin Lewis) 1980
2. Portrait of Trinidad - Mighty Sniper (Mervyn Hodge) 1965
3. Jean and Dinah - Mighty Sparrow (Slinger Francisco) 1956
4. Bassman - Mighty Shadow (Winston Bailey) 1974
5. Fire in Your Wire - Calypso Rose (McArthur Lewis) 1967
6. High Mas - David Rudder (David Rudder) 1998
7. Dan is the Man - Mighty Sparrow (Slinger Francisco) 1963
8. Maria - Lord Blakie (Carlton Joseph) 1962
9. If the Priest Could Play - Mighty Cypher (Dillary B Scott) 1967
10. The Sinking Ship - Gypsy (Winston Peters) 1986
11. Jahaji Bhai - Brother Marvin (Selwyn Demming) 1996
12. God Bless Our Nation - Lord Baker (Kent King) 1967
13. Rainorama - Lord Kitchener (Aldwyn Roberts) 1973
14. Steelband Clash - Lord Blakie (Carlton Joseph) 1954
15. The Road - Lord Kitchener (Aldwyn Roberts) 1963
16. Yankee Dollar (Rum and Coca Cola) - Lord Invader (Rupert Grant) 1946
17. Mama Look A Boo Boo - Lord Melody (Fitzroy Alexander) 1956
18. Lazy Man - Mighty Dougla (Clatis Ali) 1961
19. Caribbean Unity - Black Stalin (Leroy Calliste) 1979
20. The Slave - Mighty Sparrow (Slinger Francisco) 1963
21. Child Training - Mighty Composer (Fred Mitchell) 1969
22. Love in the Cemetery - Lord Kitchener (Aldwyn Roberts) 1963
23. Matilda - King Radio (Norman Span) 1938
24. Little Black Boy - Gypsy (Winston Peters) 1997
25. Federation - Mighty Sparrow (Slinger Francisco) 1962
26. Burn Dem - Black Stalin (Leroy Calliste) 1987
27. Ice Man (aka Ice Ice) - Lord Melody (Fitzroy Alexander) 1960
28. Rich Man Poor Man - Lord Brynner (Kade Simon) 1960
29. Um Ba Yao - Merchant (Dennis F. Williams) 1978
30. La La - Lord Nelson (Robert Nelson) 1976
31. Nature's Plan - Johnny King (Johnston King) 1984
32. Poverty is Hell - Shadow (Winston Bailey) 1994
33. The Will - Scrunter (Owen Reyes Johnson) 1982
34. Tourist Leggo - Short Shirt ( Emmanuel McLean ) 1976/7
35. Trouble in Arima - Lord Kitchener (Aldwyn Roberts) 1954
36. Ten to One is Murder - Mighty Sparrow (Slinger Francisco) 1960
37. Lorraine - Explainer (Winston Henry) 1982
38. Ganges and the Nile - David Rudder (David Rudder) 1999
39. Come Leh We Go Sookie - King Fighter (Shurland Wilson) 1964
40. Dustbin Cover - Crazy (Edwin Ayoung) 1978
41. Joan and James (aka Five Little Popos) - Mighty Bomber (Clifton Ryan) 1964
42. Life is A Stage - Brother Valentino (Emrold Phillips) 1972
43. Mama Dis is Mas - Lord Kitchener (Aldwyn Roberts) 1964
44. Pan Talent - Mighty Terror (Fitzgerald Henry) 1965
45. For Cane - Gypsy (Winston Peters) 1972
46. Mary Anne - Roaring Lion (Raphael De Leon) 1946
47. Severe Licking - Baron (Timothy Watkins) 1971
48. Watch Out My Children - Ras Shorty I (Garfield Blackman) 1989
49. Split Me in Two - Mighty Dougla (Clatis Ali) 1961
50. Ras Mas - Explainer (Winston Henry) 1981
51. My Pussin - Lord Kitchener (Aldwyn Roberts) 1965
52. Mama Popo - Brigo (Samuel Abraham) 1960s?
53. Black is Beautiful - Duke (Kelvin Pope) 1969
54. Money is King - Growling Tiger (Neville Marcano) 1935
55. Juba Dubai - Chalkdust (Hollis Liverpool) 1977
56. A Mother's Love - Destroyer (Donald Glasgow) 1941
57. Too Much Man Family - Mighty Zandolie (Sylvester Anthony) 1967
58. King Liar - Lord Nelson (Robert Nelson) 1977
59. Melda (Obeah Wedding) - Mighty Sparrow (Slinger Francisco) 1966
60. The Mecca - Brother Mudada (Alan Fortune) 1987
61. Mr. Walker - Mighty Sparrow (Slinger Francisco) 1968
62. The Bedbug - Mighty Spoiler (Theophilus Phillip) 1953
63. Congo Man - Mighty Sparrow (Slinger Francisco) 1965/1989
64. Pan in A Minor - Lord Kitchener (Aldwyn Roberts) 1987
65. Education - Mighty Sparrow (Slinger Francisco) 1967
66. People Will Talk - King Fighter (Shurland Wilson) 1962
67. Flag Woman - Lord Kitchener (Aldwyn Roberts) 1976
68. Gavaskar - Relator (Willard Harris) 1972
69. Soca Baptist - Blueboy ( Austin Lyons ) 1980
70. Steel and Brass - King Wellington (Wellington Quashi) 1973
71. Norman - Merchant (Dennis F. Williams) 1978
72. Indrani - Lord Shorty (Garfield Blackman) 1972
73. Never Ever Worry - Lord Pretender (Alric Farrell) 1962
74. Is Thunder - Duke (Kelvin Pope) 1987
75. Run the Gunslingers - Lord Caruso (Emmanuel Pierre) 1959
76. Papa Chunks - Roaring Lion (Raphael De Leon) 1941/1995
77. Scrunting Calypsonian - Trinidad Rio (Daniel Brown) 1978
78. Supposing - Mighty Composer (Fred Mitchell) 1964
79. Pan in Danger - Merchant (Dennis F. Williams) 1985
80. The Bionic Man - Maestro (Cecil Hume) 1977
81. What is Calypso? - Mighty Duke (Kelvin Pope) 1968
82. Voices From the Ghetto - Singing Sandra (Sandra De Vignes) 1999
83. The Graf Zeppelin - Atilla the Hun (Raymond Quevedo) 1934
84. The Five Rules of Calypso - Mighty Fearless (Mikey Hamit) 1966
85. Santa - King Solomon (Samuel Ryan) 1961
86. Miss Tourist - Lord Kitchener (Aldwyn Roberts) 1968
87. The Outcast - Mighty Sparrow (Slinger Francisco) 1963
88. Women and Money - Mighty Conqueror (Leroy Paul) 1962
89. Brown Skin Girl - King Radio (Norman Span) 1933
90. Die with My Dignity - Singing Sandra (Sandra De Vignes) 1987
91. Black Man Come to Party - Black Stalin (Leroy Calliste) 1991
92. Ma and Pa - Lord Creator (Kenrick Patrick) 1965
93. Obey the Highway Code - Magic (A. Rampersad) 1960s?
94. Never Hang Your Hat - Lord Cristo (Christopher Laidlow) 1967
95. Chinese Children - Mighty Terror (Fitzgerald Henry) 1950
96. May May - Mighty Sparrow (Slinger Francisco) 1960
97. Raycan - Lord Shortshirt (Hector Emmanuel) 1977
98. Soul Chick - Funny (Donric Williamson) 1973
99. Don't Interfere - The Hawk (Kenneth Haywood) 1961
100. Woman on the Bass - Scrunter (Owen Reyes Johnson) 1980
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Trinidad Roadmarch Winners
The following post is a reprint from the Blog Santiwah. Some of the dates in the post date to an earlier period in the history of the Road March competition. The winning songs played by the bands from 1932 up until 1961 were called "Leggos" (Break Away). From 1962 the competition became 'officially entrenched' in the Carnival scene and was given the name "Road March"(current name).
1932 King Radio Tiger Tom Play Tiger Cat
1933 King Radio Wash Pan Wash1934 Dougla After Johnny Drink Me Rum
1935 Lion Dingolay Oy
1936 Lion Advantage Could Never Done
1937 Lion Netty Netty
1938 Lion No Norah Darling
1939 King Radio Mathilda
1940 Beginner Run Yuh Run
1941 Lion Whoopsin, Whoopsin
1942 - No Carnival No Carnival
1943 - No Carnival No Carnival
1944 - No Carnival No Carnival
1945 - No Carnival No Carnival
1946 Lord Kitchener Jump in the line | some records say it was "Lai Fook Lee" (as played by steelbands)1947 Pharoah King Pharoah
1948 Melody Canaan Barrow
1949 Wonder Ramgoat Baptism
1950 Killer In a Calabash
1951 Terror Tiny Davis
1952 Spit Fire Post Post
1953 Spit Fire Bow Wow Wow
1954 Blakie Steel Band Clash
1955 Happy Wonderer North American Ballad
1956 Sparrow Jean and Dinah
1957 Valerie North American Ballad
1958 Sparrow Pay As You Earn
1959 Caruso Run the Gunslingers
1960 Sparrow Mae Mae
1961 Sparrow Royal Jail
1962 Blakie Maria (This song was the 'First official Road March Winner')
1963 Kitchener The Road
1964 Kitchener This Is Mas
1965 Kitchener My Pussin
1966 Sparrow Obeah Wedding
1967 Kitchener Sixty Seven
1968 Kitchener Miss Tourist
1969 Sparrow Sa Sa Yae
1970 Kitchener Margie
1971 Kitchener Madison Square
1972 Sparrow Drunk and Disorderly
1973 Kitchener Rainorama
1974 Shadow Bass Man
1975 Kitchener Tribute to Spree Simon
1976 Kitchener Flag Woman
1977 Calypso Rose Tempo
1978 Calypso Rose Soca Jam
1979 Poser Ah Tell She
1980 Blue Boy Soca Baptist
1981 Blue Boy Ethel
1982 Penguin Deputy
1983 Blue Boy Rebecca
1984 Sparrow Doh Back Back
1985 Crazy Soucoyant
1986 David Rudder Bahia Girl
1987 Duke Thunder
1988 Tambu This Party Is It
1989 Tambu Free Up
1990 Tambu We Ain?t Going Home
1991 Super Blue Get Something and Wave
1992 Super Blue Jab Jab
1993 Super Blue Bacchanal Time
1994 Preacher Jump and Wave
1995 Super Blue Signal To Lara
1996 Nigel Lewis Movin
1997 Machel Montano Big Truck
1998 Wayne Rodriguez Footsteps
1999 Sanell Dempster River
2000 Super Blue|Iwer George(Tie) Pump Up|Carnival Come Back Again
2001 Shadow Stranger
2002 Naya George Trinidad
2003 Faye-Ann Lyons Display
2004 Shurwayne Winchester De Band Coming
2005 Shurwayne Winchester Dead or Alive
2006 Machel Montano and Patrice Roberts Band of the Year
2007 Machel Montano Jumbie
2008 Faye Ann Lyons Alvarez Get on
2009 Faye Ann Lyons Alvarez "Meet Super Blue"
2010 JW and Blaze Palance
The listed information was sourced from various internet sites (and my limited knowledge) with the bulk of the list coming from www.westindianculture.com.
2011 - Machel Montano HD - Advantage
2012 - Machel Montano - Pump Yuh Flag
2013 - Austin "Super Blue" Lyons - Fantastic Friday
