At times, the simplest approach is best when dealing with overthinking a topic. I thought about what to include in this short post for the "Historical" dropdown menu. I came up with several ideas but then realized there are already many articles about Calypso and its origins scattered across the internet. That said, I have shared articles on Sokah2Soca and this new site. So, what could I do that would be different? Ah, perhaps start a timeline that could be updated continuously. Well, let's try that, and if after some time we brainstorm and find a better idea, we can switch to something else. So, let's begin with information sourced online with links to help you gather more information about each topic.
Gros Jean: Who was Gros Jean?
I remember Holly Beadier (a cultural icon from Scouting for Talent fame in Trinidad) telling the story of Gros Jean, who was regarded as the very first Calypsonian. He was literally "owned" by a powerful French plantation owner named St. Hilaire Begorrat, who lived in Diego Martin, Trinidad. According to the story, Gros Jean possessed the ability to strum a guitar, create, and sing spontaneously. Begorrat would use Gros Jean to tease his peers, especially those he did not find favor with.
If you are keen to learn more about Gros Jean, read the Trinidad Guardian article titled "Gros Jean, The First Calypsonian," written by Angelo Bissessarsingh. This is an article from the Trinidad Guardian/Back in Times archive. Link: Gros Jean, The First Calypsonian.
Timeline
1900s: Chantwells, stick fighters, and early Carnival songs
1912: First instrumental calypso recording—Lovey’s String Band
1914: First vocal calypso recording—Iron Duke
1921: First calypso tent—Railway Douglas Tent in Port-of-Spain
1935: Lady Trinidad becomes first woman to sing in a calypso tent at the Crystal Palace Tent
1937: Lady Trinidad records the first female calypso
1950s: Golden age—Lord Kitchener, Mighty Sparrow
1960s: Global exposure, Steelband integration, witty satire/set the stage for Soca
1970s: Political calypso and Black Power era
1980s: Transition to Soca: Dance‑Driven Evolution
1990s: Decline in mainstream, Soca Explosion: Carnival’s Global Soundtrack
2000s: Heritage preservation and Calypso Monarch competitions
First Calypso Recording
The first recording identifiable as Calypso music was made in 1912 by Lovey's String Band during their visit to New York City. This earliest calypso recording was instrumental and included pieces with Spanish titles reflecting the multicultural influence on the music. The first vocal calypso recording came two years later, in 1914, when Julian Whiterose (Iron Duke) recorded "Iron Duke in the Land" with English lyrics. These early recordings laid the foundation for the Calypso genre's exposure beyond Trinidad and Tobago and the English-speaking Caribbean. Lovey’s String Band's 1912 instrumental recordings, including "Mango Vert," have been preserved as significant cultural heritage. Link: Wikipedia/Calypso Music
First Vocal Calypso Recording
The first identifiably calypso-genre song was recorded in 1912, by Lovey's String Band while visiting New York City. In 1914, the second calypso recordings—including the first sung in English—were done by chantwell Julian Whiterose, better known as the Iron Duke and famous calinda stick-fighter. Jules Sims would also record vocal calypsos. Lovey and Lionel Belasco primarily composed instrumental calypsos during the World War I era. Perhaps due to the constraints of the wartime economy, no recordings of note were produced until the late 1920s and early 1930s, when the "golden era" of calypso would cement the style, form, and phrasing of the music. Link: Wikipedia/Calypso Music/Recordings.
The first-ever Calypso tent opened in Port-of-Spain in 1921 was the "Railway Douglas Tent." Walter Douglas, a Calypsonian from San Fernando whose sobriquet was "Captain Douglas," founded the first Calypso tent on Duncan Street in Port of Spain.
The first-ever female to sing in a calypso tent was "Lady Trinidad" in 1935!
Lady Trinidad was the first female to sing in a Calypso tent; she was born Thelma Lewis Lane. She made history by performing publicly in a calypso tent at the Crystal Palace Tent in Port of Spain in 1935. Lady Trinidad also became the first woman to record a calypso in 1937. Her pioneering role disrupted the male dominance in the calypso genre, paving the way for subsequent female calypsonians. Here is the Link: ttmusiclibrary.
The first-ever female Calypsonian to cut a record was "Lady Trinidad" in 1937!
Continuing with the story of Lady Trinidad and her 'firsts,' she was a pioneering female calypsonian in Trinidad and Tobago history. She became the first female calypsonian to record a calypso in 1937. Despite the societal stigma at the time against women performing calypso, she helped pave the way for subsequent generations of female calypsonians. Her calypso-singing career was relatively brief, and afterward, she performed in nightclubs. Lady Trinidad is recognized as a trailblazer for female performers in a genre dominated by men for many years. Link: Facebook/Lady Trinidad-Judy Laird.
The first-ever "Young Brigade Tent" opened in 1947 by 24-year-old Lord Kitchener, featuring Lord Melody, Mighty Spoiler, and Mighty Viking.
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