Lord Kitchener (calypsonian)
Encyclopedia
Aldwyn Roberts better known by the stage name Lord Kitchener (or "Kitch"), was one of the most internationally famous calypsonian
s. He was the son of a blacksmith, Stephen, and homemaker
, Albertha.
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."
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...
s. He was the son of a blacksmith, Stephen, and homemaker
Homemaker
Homemaking is a mainly American term for the management of a home, otherwise known as housework, housekeeping or household management...
, Albertha.
Life
Kitchener's success began after he moved to EnglandEngland
England is a country that is part of the United Kingdom. It shares land borders with Scotland to the north and Wales to the west; the Irish Sea is to the north west, the Celtic Sea to the south west, with the North Sea to the east and the English Channel to the south separating it from continental...
in 1948. His fame continued throughout the 1950s, when calypso
Calypso 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...
achieved international success. Later, though, he moved towards soca
Soca music
Soca is a style of music from Trinidad and Tobago. Soca is a musical development of traditional Trinidadian calypso, through loans from the 1960s onwards from predominantly black popular music....
, 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
Carnival
Carnaval is a festive season which occurs immediately before Lent; the main events are usually during February. Carnaval typically involves a public celebration or parade combining some elements of a circus, mask and public street party...
.
Kitchener emigrated 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...
, spending six months in Jamaica
Jamaica
Jamaica is an island nation of the Greater Antilles, in length, up to in width and 10,990 square kilometres in area. It is situated in the Caribbean Sea, about south of Cuba, and west of Hispaniola, the island harbouring the nation-states Haiti and the Dominican Republic...
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
C. L. R. James
Cyril Lionel Robert James , who sometimes wrote under the pen-name J.R. Johnson, was an Afro-Trinidadian historian, journalist, socialist theorist and essayist. His works are influential in various theoretical, social, and historiographical contexts...
defined as crucial to West Indian post-colonial societies. The song, later recorded by Lord Beginner
Lord Beginner
Lord Beginner from Port-of-Spain in Trinidad was a popular exponent of the Caribbean musical form Calypso.-Person:...
, is rarely credited to Lord Kitchener although Tony Cozier
Tony Cozier
Anthony "Tony" Cozier has been a cricket writer and commentator for West Indian cricket since 1958.Cozier is the son of Barbados journalist, Jimmy Cozier and he studied journalism at Carleton University, Ottawa...
and many who attended the Test
Test cricket
Test cricket is the longest form of the sport of cricket. Test matches are played between national representative teams with "Test status", as determined by the International Cricket Council , with four innings played between two teams of 11 players over a period of up to a maximum five days...
at The Oval
The Oval
The Kia Oval, still commonly referred to by its original name of The Oval, is an international cricket ground in Kennington, in the London Borough of Lambeth. In the past it was also sometimes called the Kennington 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
BBC
The British Broadcasting Corporation is a British public service broadcaster. Its headquarters is at Broadcasting House in the City of Westminster, London. It is the largest broadcaster in the world, with about 23,000 staff...
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
Mighty Sparrow
Mighty Sparrow or Birdie is a calypso singer, songwriter, and guitarist. Known as the "Calypso King of the World," he is one of the most well-known and successful calypsonians...
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
Calypso Rose
McArtha Linda Sandy-Lewis, better known as Calypso Rose is a Tobagonian calypsonian.She began writing songs at the age of 15, and has written over 800 songs. In 1966 she wrote the song Fire in Me Wire, which has since become a calypso anthem...
, David Rudder
David Rudder
David Michael Rudder is a calypsonian from Trinidad.-Career:David Rudder is one of the top calypsonians of all time. In 1977, he joined Charlie's Roots, one of the top bands in Trinidad and Tobago. He spent many years as one of the vocalists with the band...
, Black Stalin
Black Stalin
Black Stalin is a leading calypsonian.Born in San Fernando, Trinidad and Tobago, to George and Elcina Calliste ,He is one of four children. Stalin began singing calypso in 1959, but did not join a calypso tent until 1962 when he joined the Southern Brigade...
and Denyse Plummer
Denyse Plummer
Denyse Plummer is a calypso singer from Trinidad and Tobago. The 1954-born blue-eyed daughter of a white father and black mother, she initially faced significant prejudice in a genre traditionally seen as Afro-Caribbean, but was eventually recognized as a leading calypso performer.Before entering...
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
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...
. 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
Xtatik
Xtatik is a locally and well-known Trinidad and Tobago soca band led by Machel Montano.-History:The band evolved from Panasonic Express, which was formed in 1984 in Port of Spain...
. 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
Curaçao
Curaçao is an island in the southern Caribbean Sea, off the Venezuelan coast. The Country of Curaçao , which includes the main island plus the small, uninhabited island of Klein Curaçao , is a constituent country of the Kingdom of the Netherlands...
, Aruba
Aruba
Aruba is a 33 km-long island of the Lesser Antilles in the southern Caribbean Sea, located 27 km north of the coast of Venezuela and 130 km east of Guajira Peninsula...
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."
Merits
| Year | Song |
|---|---|
| 1946 | Jump in Line |
| 1963 | The Road |
| 1964 | Mama dis is Mas |
| 1965 | My Pussin' |
| 1967 | Sixty Seven |
| 1968 | Miss Tourist |
| 1970 | Margie |
| 1971 | Mas in Madison Square Garden |
| 1973 | Rainorama |
| 1975 | Tribute to Spree Simon |
| 1976 | Flag Woman |
| Year | Song 1 | Song 2 |
|---|---|---|
| 1975 | Tribute to Spree Simon | Fever |