Attila the Hun (calypsonian)
Encyclopedia
Attila the Hun was a calypsonian
from Trinidad
.
beyond its birthplace in Trinidad and Tobago
. Together with the Roaring Lion
(Rafael de Leon
) he brought calypso to the United States
for the first time in 1934. Known as a defender of the poor, he was able to transition to a political career. When several of his records were censored
he composed "The Banning of Records", which was itself banned.
Attila was the first calypsonian to hold elected public office; he was elected to the Port of Spain
City Council
in 1946 and was elected to the Legislative Council of Trinidad and Tobago
in 1950 representing the St. George County East. (See: Elections in Trinidad and Tobago
). He also authored Attila's Kaiso: a short history of Trinidad calypso with John La Rose
. It was published posthumously in 1983.
Calypsonian
A calypsonian , originally known as the chantwell is a musician, from the Anglophone Caribbean, who sings songs called calypso. Calypsos are musical renditions having their origins in the West African griot tradition...
from Trinidad
Trinidad
Trinidad is the larger and more populous of the two major islands and numerous landforms which make up the island nation of Trinidad and Tobago. It is the southernmost island in the Caribbean and lies just off the northeastern coast of Venezuela. With an area of it is also the fifth largest in...
.
Person
Atilla the Hun (real name Raymond Quevedo) began singing in 1911 and was at his most prominent in the 1930s and 1940s. He was one of the pioneers in spreading awareness of calypsoCalypso music
Calypso is a style of Afro-Caribbean music that originated in Trinidad and Tobago from African and European roots. The roots of the genre lay in the arrival of enslaved Africans, who, not being allowed to speak with each other, communicated through song...
beyond its birthplace in Trinidad and Tobago
Trinidad and Tobago
Trinidad and Tobago officially the Republic of Trinidad and Tobago is an archipelagic state in the southern Caribbean, lying just off the coast of northeastern Venezuela and south of Grenada in the Lesser Antilles...
. Together with the Roaring Lion
Roaring Lion
Roaring Lion was a calypsonian...
(Rafael de Leon
Roaring Lion
Roaring Lion was a calypsonian...
) he brought calypso to the United States
United States
The United States of America is a federal constitutional republic comprising fifty states and a federal district...
for the first time in 1934. Known as a defender of the poor, he was able to transition to a political career. When several of his records were censored
Censorship
thumb|[[Book burning]] following the [[1973 Chilean coup d'état|1973 coup]] that installed the [[Military government of Chile |Pinochet regime]] in Chile...
he composed "The Banning of Records", which was itself banned.
Attila was the first calypsonian to hold elected public office; he was elected to the Port of Spain
Port of Spain
Port of Spain, also written as Port-of-Spain, is the capital of the Republic of Trinidad and Tobago and the country's third-largest municipality, after San Fernando and Chaguanas. The city has a municipal population of 49,031 , a metropolitan population of 128,026 and a transient daily population...
City Council
City council
A city council or town council is the legislative body that governs a city, town, municipality or local government area.-Australia & NZ:Because of the differences in legislation between the States, the exact definition of a City Council varies...
in 1946 and was elected to the Legislative Council of Trinidad and Tobago
Legislative Council of Trinidad and Tobago
The Legislative Council of Trinidad and Tobago served as an advisory commission to the Governor in British-ruled Trinidad and Tobago, between 1925 and independence in 1961. The Legislative Council consisted of a mixture of appointed and elected members...
in 1950 representing the St. George County East. (See: Elections in Trinidad and Tobago
Elections in Trinidad and Tobago
Elections in Trinidad and Tobago gives information on election and election results in Trinidad and Tobago.Trinidad and Tobago elects on national level a House of Representatives...
). He also authored Attila's Kaiso: a short history of Trinidad calypso with John La Rose
John La Rose
John La Rose was a political and cultural activist, poet, writer, publisher, and Chairman of the George Padmore Institute...
. It was published posthumously in 1983.