**JUST A LITTLE BIT- LORD KITCHENER AND ED WATSON - CALYPSO- (TRINIDAD AND TOBAGO)**
Aldwyn Roberts (18 April 1922 -- 11 February 2000), better known by the stage name Lord Kitchener (or Kitch), was one of the most internationally famous calypsonians. He was the son of a blacksmith, Stephen, and homemaker, Albertha.
Kitchener's success began after he moved to England in 1948. His fame continued throughout the 1950s, when calypso achieved international success. Later, though, he moved towards soca, a related style, and continued recording until his death. Kitchener's compositions were enormously popular as the chosen selections for steel bands to perform at the annual National Panorama competition during Trinidad Carnival.
Kitchener emigrated from Trinidad, spending six months in Jamaica before traveling on the Empire Windrush to the UK. In 1952, he met his wife Marjorie. During the 1950s he built a large following in the expatriate communities of the West Indian islands.
Kitch became a very important figure to those first 5000 West Indian migrants to the UK. His music spoke of home and a life that they all longed for but in many cases couldn't or wouldn't return to. On June 29, 1950, he immortalised the defining moment for many of the migrants in writing Cricket, Lovely Cricket. This was one of the first widely-known West Indian songs, and epitomised an event that historian and cricket enthusiast C. L. R. James defined as crucial to West Indian post-colonial societies. The song, later recorded by Lord Beginner, is rarely credited to Lord Kitchener although Tony Cozier and many who attended the Test at The Oval can attest that it was a Kitch composition. In England, Kitch started out working in London pubs. At first there were difficulties with English audiences who did not understand all the words, but that did not deter Kitch, and after the BBC gave him a chance to broadcast, he moved on to club bookings, and was soon performing in three clubs every night.
Kitch returned to Trinidad in 1962. He and the Mighty Sparrow proceeded to dominate the calypso competitions of the sixties and seventies. Lord Kitchener won the road march competition ten times between 1965 and 1976, more times than any other calypsonian.
For 30 years, Kitchener ran his own calypso tent, Calypso Revue, by which he nurtured the talent of many calypsonians. Calypso Rose, David Rudder, Black Stalin and Denyse Plummer are among the many artists who got their start under Kitchener's tutelage.
Kitchener, who created highly-popular and sweet melodies, is honoured with a statue in Port of Spain. He is buried in the Santa Rosa Cemetery in Arima. A bust of the beloved entertainer is also on display on Hollis Avenue, Arima, not far from the Arima Stadium.
Kitchener's son, Kernal Roberts, is also a performer, playing drums for the biggest soca band in the country, Xtatik. He is also their musical director and composer of the 2006 Road March.
It was always important to Kitch throughout his career to gain new experiences that could be woven into his material. This led him to performances in Curaçao, Aruba and Jamaica in the early days, and finally to London, when he was already flying high in Trinidad. Kitch once said: I have reached the height of my popularity in Trinidad. What am I doing here? I should make a move.
The Grabbler - Freeness ( Trinidad & Tobago Calypso 1980 )
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G.B.T.V. CultureShare ARCHIVES 1992: LORD SMILEY (HD)
1992 - SPEKTAKULA CALYPSO TENT, PORT OF SPAIN TRINIDAD & TOBAGO..
Introduction by MC/Comedian…TOMMY JOSEPH..
Accompanied by ROY CAPE KAISO ALL STARS
SOME TRINI WORDS EXPLAINED PART 2
Aldwyn Roberts HBM DA (18 April 1922 – 11 February 2000), better known by the stage name Lord Kitche
Roberts was born in Arima, Trinidad and Tobago, the son of a blacksmith, Stephen, and housewife, Albertha. He was educated at the Arima Boys Government School until he was 14, when his father died, leaving him orphaned. His father had encouraged him to sing and taught him to play the guitar,and he became a full-time musician, his first job playing guitar for Water Scheme labourers while they laid pipes in the San Fernando Valley. He became locally popular in Arima with songs such as Shops Close Too Early, and joined the Sheriff Band as lead singer.He won the Arima borough council's calypso competition five times between 1938 and 1942
He moved to Port of Spain in 1943 where he joined the Roving Brigade. He was spotted singing Mary I am Tired and Disgusted (aka Green Fig) with the group by Johnny Khan, who invited him to perform in his Victory Tent, where he met fellow calypsonian Growling Tiger, who decided Roberts should from that point be known as Lord Kitchener. He became known as an innovator, introducing musical and lyrical changes, including frequent criticism of the British government's control of the island. During World War 2 Kitchener became popular with US troops based on the island, leading to performances in New York. After the end of World War 2, T&T Carnival 1946 took place in early March during which Kitchener won his very first official Road March title with a catchy calypso leggo called Jump In The Line.
He toured Jamaica for six months in 1947-8 with Lord Beginner (Egbert Moore) and Lord Woodbine (Harold Philips) before they took passage on the Empire Windrush to England in 1948.Upon his arrival, Kitchener performed the specially-written song London Is the Place for Me, which he sang live on a report for Pathé News.
Within two years he was a regular performer on BBC radio, and was much in demand for live performances.He found further success in the UK in the 1950s, building a large following in the expatriate communities of the West Indian islands, and having hits with Kitch, Food from the West Indie, Tie Tongue Mopsy, and Alec Bedser Calypso, while remaining popular in T&T.
His prominence continued throughout the 1950s, when calypso achieved international success. Kitchener became a very important figure to those first 5,000 West Indian migrants to the UK. His music spoke of home and a life that they all longed for but in many cases couldn't or wouldn't return to.He immortalised the defining moment for many of the migrants in writing the Victory Calypso with its lyrics Cricket, Lovely Cricket to celebrate West Indies cricket team's first victory over England in England, in the 2nd Test at Lord's in June 1950.This was one of the first widely known West Indian songs, and epitomised an event that historian and cricket enthusiast C. L. R. James defined as crucial to West Indian post-colonial societies.
He opened a nightclub in Manchester and also had a successful residency at The Sunset in London.Further US performances followed in the mid-1950s.In the 1950s Kitchener composed Bebop Calypso.
Kitchener returned to Trinidad in 1962. He and the Mighty Sparrow proceeded to dominate the calypso competitions of the sixties and seventies. Lord Kitchener won the road march competition ten times between 1963 and 1976, more times than any other calypsonian. For 30 years, Kitchener ran his own calypso tent, Calypso Revue, within which he nurtured the talent of many calypsonians. Calypso Rose, David Rudder, Black Stalin and Denyse Plummer are among the many artists who got their start under Kitchener's tutelage. Later he moved towards soca, a related style, and continued recording until his death. Kitchener's compositions were enormously popular as the chosen selections for steel bands to perform at the annual National Panorama competition during Trinidad Carnival.[4] He won his only Calypso King title in 1975 with Tribute to Spree Simon.He stopped competing in 1976.
Kitchener saw the potential of the new soca phenomenon of the late 1970s and adopted the genre on a string of albums over the years that followed.He recorded his most commercially successful song, and one of the earliest major soca hits, Sugar Bum Bum in 1978.
In 1993 a campaign was launched for Kitchener to receive the island's highest civilian honour, the Trinity Cross.The government declined but offered him a lesser honour, which he turned down.
Having been diagnosed with bone marrow cancer, Kitchener retired in 1999 after delivering a final album, Vintage Kitch.He died on 11 February 2000 of a blood infection and kidney failure at the Mount Hope Hospital in Port of Spain.[4] He is buried in the Santa Rosa Cemetery in Arima.
It was always important to Kitchener throughout his career to gain new experiences that could be woven into his material. This led him to performances in Curaçao, Aruba and Jamaica in the early days, and finally to London.
Lord Kitchener - Ah Born Calypsonian
Kitchener - The Kaiso Maestro
Freddie Kissoon May 12 2012
Does the name Aldwyn Roberts ring a bell? If it does, you are among the very few. But if we say 'Lord Kitchener' or 'Kitch', you will most certainly say, Oh yes, he was the Road March King of yesteryear, or words to that effect.
There is a statue of Kitch on the Harvard's roundabout opposite the Roxy Pizza Hut. By the way, the world famous Ripley in his Believe it or Not column, wrote that the intersection is the only corner where six streets meet.
A few weeks ago, as I was driving to my home in Diggo, I switched on the car radio and heard the announcer saying, Today is 'Kitchener's Day' and all the music, you will hear is that of the Grandmaster himself. If Lord Kitchener had lived, he would have been 90 years and two days old as he was really born on April 18 but since we had Test match cricket at the Oval on that day, we are celebrating his birthday today. So sit back, listen and enjoy.
Then came the voice of Kitchener singing, Audrey, way you get dat sugar? With that Kitch went on to praise her derriere, claiming that, There is nothing sweeter, and so on. We were then treated to the rhythmic riveting pulsating chorus, Sugar bum, sugar bum, sugar bum bum, which went on repeatedly. As he came to the end of the song, he literally begged over and over, Give me the bum bum Audrey. Oh Lord! Oh Lord!
We are accustomed to the romantic poets and singers showering praises on the eyes, hair or lips of the ladies they love. King Solomon, in 'Song of Songs' in the Bible, wrote, Return, return, O Shulamite:...What shall we see in the Shulamite? He went on to praise the beauty of her feet, ankle, thighs, navel, belly, breasts, neck, eyes, nose and hair. Theologians say that Solomon is writing here about God's graces.
You could be sure that Kitch was not singing about the church. The radio host, asked, If Kitchener were alive, what do you think he'll be doing today? Call in and let us know what you think. At this point, one listener said, Kitchener would be dancing with Audrey and displaying his ability to manoeuvre on one leg.
When Lotto first came on the scene, I found myself in a long line with Kitch just ahead of me. A guy shouted to him, Kitch, what a millionaire like you doing, lining up in the blazing hot sun like we, trying your luck to win some money? Kitch replied that he was a scrunting calypsonian. Another asked, Why so much calypsonians leaving your Revue Tent? Kitch explained, As soon as somebody offer them fellas, a penny more, they go leave to sing in Toco.
Kelvin Poon Affatt, in his Book of People wrote that Kitch at five used to make up calypsoes about his schoolmates. His syncopated rhythm probably echoed the hammering of the anvil he had been hearing as his father was a blacksmith. Later, he was hired to sing lavways as workers were putting down new water mains in Arima.
At a Port-of-Spain calypso tent, The Growling Tiger dubbed the shy stuttering 16-year-old country boy Lord Kitchener.
His calypso Green Fig was a big hit with the audience and he was paid the lordly sum of one dollar. Kitch decided to head up the islands in search of tourists boats. In Jamaica, he joined the hundreds going to the Mother Country. On arrival, Kitch sang for the BBC, It is very plain to see / England is the place for me.
Shortly after, in East London, while singing in a pub, cockney dock workers threw him out bodily into the alley. But in a Bayswater pub, his fellow Trinis Russel Henderson and Fitzroy Coleman, gave him a warm welcome. After 16 years, Kitch came back home and the rest is history.
G.B.T.V. CultureShare ARCHIVES 1999: VALENTINO Calypso in trouble (SD)
5-29-99 - TRIBUTE TO RAS SHORTY I..@ THE ARISTOCRAT MANOR, BROOKLYN NY...
Tuco Trinidad-Tobago
Emorold Anthony Phillip was born on the 7th of July 1941 in a little place called Cherry Hill in Grenada. He came to Trinidad at the age of five, on a Carnival Monday. Philip lived at Long Circular Road, Bel Vue in the capital city of Port of Spain. He attend the Mucurapo Boys RC primary school and later spent one term / semester at a private secondary school before his father died and he was unable to continue paying the tuition. Phillip would pass through a number of odd jobs before settling on a career as a calypsonian. From a short stint at a Printery on Marine Square, to an electrician, then a mechanic and most telling a tailor, for it is here he was exposed once more to the calypso music his father had weaned him on, the tailors always having their radios on in the background while they worked on their profession. He started his illustrious career in a Calypso tent by the name of the 'Big Bamboo', which was on Park Street in Port of Spain. The Calypso tent was for guys who couldn't get into the big tents The Calypsonians who performed then, were 'Skipper', 'Creator' ,'Lord Inventor', 'Conqueror', and 'Young Creole', some of the top Calypsonians. This was in 1961 and his name then, was not 'Valentino' but 'Robin'. The Robin would get his new name in December of 1965 when after an audition at Kitchener's Revue Calypso tent, he announced to the gathering that he had no name, another calypsoninan having appropriated the name Robin earlier that year. Thus it was the great Lord Kitchener who bestowed the name Lord Valentino on Phillip. Later in the 1970's during the revolutionary days of the Black Power movement, he would change his name to Brother Valentino. It was during this period too that fellow calypso stalwart, five time national monarch, the Black Stalin would give him the title 'the People's Calypsonian'. Though only three times a national monarch finalist (and never winning the coveted crown) he would become the true spokesman for the people , the true opposition, the voice of conscience. His hits over the years include the immortal Life is a stage (1972), Barking Dogs (1974), Dis place Nice (1975), the best selling 'Stay up Zimbabwe' (1979), Birds that fly high (1982, Time and Space (1986),) Calypso in Trouble (1992) Time to love again (1996), The Radio (2001) and Where Kaiso went (2004) Valentino, now a veteran among calypso bards, is enjoying his second marriage, this time to former national netball played Peggy Castanada. He continues to be a role model for the new generation of younger singers who see him as the epitome of social consciousness, a direct descendant of the great chantwells of yesteryear -- Executor, Atilla, Tiger and the beat goes on & on & on. .. — ANTHONY EMROLD PHILLIP BROTHER VALENTINO
G.B.T.V. CultureShare ARCHIVES 1999: VALENTINO Calypso in trouble (HD)
5-29-99 - TRIBUTE TO RAS SHORTY I..@ THE ARISTOCRAT MANOR, BROOKLYN NY...
Tuco Trinidad-Tobago
Emorold Anthony Phillip was born on the 7th of July 1941 in a little place called Cherry Hill in Grenada. He came to Trinidad at the age of five, on a Carnival Monday. Philip lived at Long Circular Road, Bel Vue in the capital city of Port of Spain. He attend the Mucurapo Boys RC primary school and later spent one term / semester at a private secondary school before his father died and he was unable to continue paying the tuition. Phillip would pass through a number of odd jobs before settling on a career as a calypsonian. From a short stint at a Printery on Marine Square, to an electrician, then a mechanic and most telling a tailor, for it is here he was exposed once more to the calypso music his father had weaned him on, the tailors always having their radios on in the background while they worked on their profession. He started his illustrious career in a Calypso tent by the name of the 'Big Bamboo', which was on Park Street in Port of Spain. The Calypso tent was for guys who couldn't get into the big tents The Calypsonians who performed then, were 'Skipper', 'Creator' ,'Lord Inventor', 'Conqueror', and 'Young Creole', some of the top Calypsonians. This was in 1961 and his name then, was not 'Valentino' but 'Robin'. The Robin would get his new name in December of 1965 when after an audition at Kitchener's Revue Calypso tent, he announced to the gathering that he had no name, another calypsoninan having appropriated the name Robin earlier that year. Thus it was the great Lord Kitchener who bestowed the name Lord Valentino on Phillip. Later in the 1970's during the revolutionary days of the Black Power movement, he would change his name to Brother Valentino. It was during this period too that fellow calypso stalwart, five time national monarch, the Black Stalin would give him the title 'the People's Calypsonian'. Though only three times a national monarch finalist (and never winning the coveted crown) he would become the true spokesman for the people , the true opposition, the voice of conscience. His hits over the years include the immortal Life is a stage (1972), Barking Dogs (1974), Dis place Nice (1975), the best selling 'Stay up Zimbabwe' (1979), Birds that fly high (1982, Time and Space (1986),) Calypso in Trouble (1992) Time to love again (1996), The Radio (2001) and Where Kaiso went (2004) Valentino, now a veteran among calypso bards, is enjoying his second marriage, this time to former national netball played Peggy Castanada. He continues to be a role model for the new generation of younger singers who see him as the epitome of social consciousness, a direct descendant of the great chantwells of yesteryear -- Executor, Atilla, Tiger and the beat goes on & on & on. .. — ANTHONY EMROLD PHILLIP BROTHER VALENTINO
G.B.T.V. CultureShare ARCHIVES 1992: TYPHER True Dignity
1992 - @ SPEKTAKULA TENT, PORT OF SPAIN, TRINIDAD & TOBAGO.
Courtesy of SPEKTAKULA
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G.B.T.V. CultureShare ARCHIVES 1994: RICHARD McINTOSH Who Want Gun
2-13-94 - Guest Performance @ DIMANCHE GRAS, QUEENS PARK SAVANNAH, PORT OF SPAIN, TRINIDAD..
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G.B.T.V. CultureShare ARCHIVES 1992: VALENTINO Life is a stage
1992 - CALYPSO & STEELBAND SUNSHINE AWARDS @ THE EQUITABLE BUILDING, NEW YORK CITY...
Tuco Trinidad-Tobago
Emorold Anthony Phillip was born on the 7th of July 1941 in a little place called Cherry Hill in Grenada. He came to Trinidad at the age of five, on a Carnival Monday. Philip lived at Long Circular Road, Bel Vue in the capital city of Port of Spain. He attend the Mucurapo Boys RC primary school and later spent one term / semester at a private secondary school before his father died and he was unable to continue paying the tuition. Phillip would pass through a number of odd jobs before settling on a career as a calypsonian. From a short stint at a Printery on Marine Square, to an electrician, then a mechanic and most telling a tailor, for it is here he was exposed once more to the calypso music his father had weaned him on, the tailors always having their radios on in the background while they worked on their profession. He started his illustrious career in a Calypso tent by the name of the 'Big Bamboo', which was on Park Street in Port of Spain. The Calypso tent was for guys who couldn't get into the big tents The Calypsonians who performed then, were 'Skipper', 'Creator' ,'Lord Inventor', 'Conqueror', and 'Young Creole', some of the top Calypsonians. This was in 1961 and his name then, was not 'Valentino' but 'Robin'. The Robin would get his new name in December of 1965 when after an audition at Kitchener's Revue Calypso tent, he announced to the gathering that he had no name, another calypsoninan having appropriated the name Robin earlier that year. Thus it was the great Lord Kitchener who bestowed the name Lord Valentino on Phillip. Later in the 1970's during the revolutionary days of the Black Power movement, he would change his name to Brother Valentino. It was during this period too that fellow calypso stalwart, five time national monarch, the Black Stalin would give him the title 'the People's Calypsonian'. Though only three times a national monarch finalist (and never winning the coveted crown) he would become the true spokesman for the people , the true opposition, the voice of conscience. His hits over the years include the immortal Life is a stage (1972), Barking Dogs (1974), Dis place Nice (1975), the best selling 'Stay up Zimbabwe' (1979), Birds that fly high (1982, Time and Space (1986),) Calypso in Trouble (1992) Time to love again (1996), The Radio (2001) and Where Kaiso went (2004) Valentino, now a veteran among calypso bards, is enjoying his second marriage, this time to former national netball played Peggy Castanada. He continues to be a role model for the new generation of younger singers who see him as the epitome of social consciousness, a direct descendant of the great chantwells of yesteryear -- Executor, Atilla, Tiger and the beat goes on & on & on. .. — ANTHONY EMROLD PHILLIP BROTHER VALENTINO
G.B.T.V. CultureShare ARCHIVES 1999: VALENTINO Life is a stage
5-29-99 - RAS SHORTY I Tribute @ THE ARISTOCRAT MANOR, BROOKLYN NY.
Tuco Trinidad-Tobago
Emorold Anthony Phillip was born on the 7th of July 1941 in a little place called Cherry Hill in Grenada. He came to Trinidad at the age of five, on a Carnival Monday. Philip lived at Long Circular Road, Bel Vue in the capital city of Port of Spain. He attend the Mucurapo Boys RC primary school and later spent one term / semester at a private secondary school before his father died and he was unable to continue paying the tuition. Phillip would pass through a number of odd jobs before settling on a career as a calypsonian. From a short stint at a Printery on Marine Square, to an electrician, then a mechanic and most telling a tailor, for it is here he was exposed once more to the calypso music his father had weaned him on, the tailors always having their radios on in the background while they worked on their profession. He started his illustrious career in a Calypso tent by the name of the 'Big Bamboo', which was on Park Street in Port of Spain. The Calypso tent was for guys who couldn't get into the big tents The Calypsonians who performed then, were 'Skipper', 'Creator' ,'Lord Inventor', 'Conqueror', and 'Young Creole', some of the top Calypsonians. This was in 1961 and his name then, was not 'Valentino' but 'Robin'. The Robin would get his new name in December of 1965 when after an audition at Kitchener's Revue Calypso tent, he announced to the gathering that he had no name, another calypsoninan having appropriated the name Robin earlier that year. Thus it was the great Lord Kitchener who bestowed the name Lord Valentino on Phillip. Later in the 1970's during the revolutionary days of the Black Power movement, he would change his name to Brother Valentino. It was during this period too that fellow calypso stalwart, five time national monarch, the Black Stalin would give him the title 'the People's Calypsonian'. Though only three times a national monarch finalist (and never winning the coveted crown) he would become the true spokesman for the people , the true opposition, the voice of conscience. His hits over the years include the immortal Life is a stage (1972), Barking Dogs (1974), Dis place Nice (1975), the best selling 'Stay up Zimbabwe' (1979), Birds that fly high (1982, Time and Space (1986),) Calypso in Trouble (1992) Time to love again (1996), The Radio (2001) and Where Kaiso went (2004) Valentino, now a veteran among calypso bards, is enjoying his second marriage, this time to former national netball played Peggy Castanada. He continues to be a role model for the new generation of younger singers who see him as the epitome of social consciousness, a direct descendant of the great chantwells of yesteryear -- Executor, Atilla, Tiger and the beat goes on & on & on. .. — ANTHONY EMROLD PHILLIP BROTHER VALENTINO
G.B.T.V. CultureShare ARCHIVES 1999: VALENTINO #4
5-29-99 - RAS SHORTY I TRIBUTE @ THE ARISTOCRAT MANOR, BROOKLYN NY.
Tuco Trinidad-Tobago
Emorold Anthony Phillip was born on the 7th of July 1941 in a little place called Cherry Hill in Grenada. He came to Trinidad at the age of five, on a Carnival Monday. Philip lived at Long Circular Road, Bel Vue in the capital city of Port of Spain. He attend the Mucurapo Boys RC primary school and later spent one term / semester at a private secondary school before his father died and he was unable to continue paying the tuition. Phillip would pass through a number of odd jobs before settling on a career as a calypsonian. From a short stint at a Printery on Marine Square, to an electrician, then a mechanic and most telling a tailor, for it is here he was exposed once more to the calypso music his father had weaned him on, the tailors always having their radios on in the background while they worked on their profession. He started his illustrious career in a Calypso tent by the name of the 'Big Bamboo', which was on Park Street in Port of Spain. The Calypso tent was for guys who couldn't get into the big tents The Calypsonians who performed then, were 'Skipper', 'Creator' ,'Lord Inventor', 'Conqueror', and 'Young Creole', some of the top Calypsonians. This was in 1961 and his name then, was not 'Valentino' but 'Robin'. The Robin would get his new name in December of 1965 when after an audition at Kitchener's Revue Calypso tent, he announced to the gathering that he had no name, another calypsoninan having appropriated the name Robin earlier that year. Thus it was the great Lord Kitchener who bestowed the name Lord Valentino on Phillip. Later in the 1970's during the revolutionary days of the Black Power movement, he would change his name to Brother Valentino. It was during this period too that fellow calypso stalwart, five time national monarch, the Black Stalin would give him the title 'the People's Calypsonian'. Though only three times a national monarch finalist (and never winning the coveted crown) he would become the true spokesman for the people , the true opposition, the voice of conscience. His hits over the years include the immortal Life is a stage (1972), Barking Dogs (1974), Dis place Nice (1975), the best selling 'Stay up Zimbabwe' (1979), Birds that fly high (1982, Time and Space (1986),) Calypso in Trouble (1992) Time to love again (1996), The Radio (2001) and Where Kaiso went (2004) Valentino, now a veteran among calypso bards, is enjoying his second marriage, this time to former national netball played Peggy Castanada. He continues to be a role model for the new generation of younger singers who see him as the epitome of social consciousness, a direct descendant of the great chantwells of yesteryear -- Executor, Atilla, Tiger and the beat goes on & on & on. .. — ANTHONY EMROLD PHILLIP BROTHER VALENTINO
G.B.T.V. CultureShare ARCHIVES 1992: LUTA No Justice in the law (HD)
1992 - @ SPEKTAKULA TENT, PORT OF SPAIN, TRINIDAD & TOBAGO.
Courtesy of SPEKTAKULA
PNM 50th INDEPENDENCE CELEBRATION
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1995 - @ MARACAS BAY, TRINIDAD & TOBAGO.
G.B.T.V. CultureShare ARCHIVES 1999: VALENTINO ...#2
5-29-99 - A TRIBUTE TO RAS SHORTY I..@ THE ARISTOCRAT MANOR, BROOKLYN NY.
Tuco Trinidad-Tobago
Emorold Anthony Phillip was born on the 7th of July 1941 in a little place called Cherry Hill in Grenada. He came to Trinidad at the age of five, on a Carnival Monday. Philip lived at Long Circular Road, Bel Vue in the capital city of Port of Spain. He attend the Mucurapo Boys RC primary school and later spent one term / semester at a private secondary school before his father died and he was unable to continue paying the tuition. Phillip would pass through a number of odd jobs before settling on a career as a calypsonian. From a short stint at a Printery on Marine Square, to an electrician, then a mechanic and most telling a tailor, for it is here he was exposed once more to the calypso music his father had weaned him on, the tailors always having their radios on in the background while they worked on their profession. He started his illustrious career in a Calypso tent by the name of the 'Big Bamboo', which was on Park Street in Port of Spain. The Calypso tent was for guys who couldn't get into the big tents The Calypsonians who performed then, were 'Skipper', 'Creator' ,'Lord Inventor', 'Conqueror', and 'Young Creole', some of the top Calypsonians. This was in 1961 and his name then, was not 'Valentino' but 'Robin'. The Robin would get his new name in December of 1965 when after an audition at Kitchener's Revue Calypso tent, he announced to the gathering that he had no name, another calypsoninan having appropriated the name Robin earlier that year. Thus it was the great Lord Kitchener who bestowed the name Lord Valentino on Phillip. Later in the 1970's during the revolutionary days of the Black Power movement, he would change his name to Brother Valentino. It was during this period too that fellow calypso stalwart, five time national monarch, the Black Stalin would give him the title 'the People's Calypsonian'. Though only three times a national monarch finalist (and never winning the coveted crown) he would become the true spokesman for the people , the true opposition, the voice of conscience. His hits over the years include the immortal Life is a stage (1972), Barking Dogs (1974), Dis place Nice (1975), the best selling 'Stay up Zimbabwe' (1979), Birds that fly high (1982, Time and Space (1986),) Calypso in Trouble (1992) Time to love again (1996), The Radio (2001) and Where Kaiso went (2004) Valentino, now a veteran among calypso bards, is enjoying his second marriage, this time to former national netball played Peggy Castanada. He continues to be a role model for the new generation of younger singers who see him as the epitome of social consciousness, a direct descendant of the great chantwells of yesteryear -- Executor, Atilla, Tiger and the beat goes on & on & on. .. — ANTHONY EMROLD PHILLIP BROTHER VALENTINO (11 photos)
G.B.T.V. CultureShare ARCHIVES 1999: VALENTINO #5
5-29-99 - RAS SHORTY I Tribute @ THE ARISTOCRAT MANOR, BROOKLYN NY.
Tuco Trinidad-Tobago
Emorold Anthony Phillip was born on the 7th of July 1941 in a little place called Cherry Hill in Grenada. He came to Trinidad at the age of five, on a Carnival Monday. Philip lived at Long Circular Road, Bel Vue in the capital city of Port of Spain. He attend the Mucurapo Boys RC primary school and later spent one term / semester at a private secondary school before his father died and he was unable to continue paying the tuition. Phillip would pass through a number of odd jobs before settling on a career as a calypsonian. From a short stint at a Printery on Marine Square, to an electrician, then a mechanic and most telling a tailor, for it is here he was exposed once more to the calypso music his father had weaned him on, the tailors always having their radios on in the background while they worked on their profession. He started his illustrious career in a Calypso tent by the name of the 'Big Bamboo', which was on Park Street in Port of Spain. The Calypso tent was for guys who couldn't get into the big tents The Calypsonians who performed then, were 'Skipper', 'Creator' ,'Lord Inventor', 'Conqueror', and 'Young Creole', some of the top Calypsonians. This was in 1961 and his name then, was not 'Valentino' but 'Robin'. The Robin would get his new name in December of 1965 when after an audition at Kitchener's Revue Calypso tent, he announced to the gathering that he had no name, another calypsoninan having appropriated the name Robin earlier that year. Thus it was the great Lord Kitchener who bestowed the name Lord Valentino on Phillip. Later in the 1970's during the revolutionary days of the Black Power movement, he would change his name to Brother Valentino. It was during this period too that fellow calypso stalwart, five time national monarch, the Black Stalin would give him the title 'the People's Calypsonian'. Though only three times a national monarch finalist (and never winning the coveted crown) he would become the true spokesman for the people , the true opposition, the voice of conscience. His hits over the years include the immortal Life is a stage (1972), Barking Dogs (1974), Dis place Nice (1975), the best selling 'Stay up Zimbabwe' (1979), Birds that fly high (1982, Time and Space (1986),) Calypso in Trouble (1992) Time to love again (1996), The Radio (2001) and Where Kaiso went (2004) Valentino, now a veteran among calypso bards, is enjoying his second marriage, this time to former national netball played Peggy Castanada. He continues to be a role model for the new generation of younger singers who see him as the epitome of social consciousness, a direct descendant of the great chantwells of yesteryear -- Executor, Atilla, Tiger and the beat goes on & on & on. .. — ANTHONY EMROLD PHILLIP BROTHER VALENTINO
TUCO Mini Concert 2018
The annual celebration of calypso as an art form and its impact on our culture is one of the Bank's CSR initiatives. Performances by Crazy, Brother Mudada, Johnny King, Lady Africa, Lingo, Lord Relator and Ronnie Macintosh at the 2018 TUCO (Trinbago Unified Calypsonians' Organisation) Mini Concert hosted by the Central Bank of Trinidad and Tobago in recognition of Calypso History Month.