The Golden Age of Calypso
It was the beginning of what might be called Calypso's golden age. The time of the Great Calypso Legends such as Roaring Lion, Atilla the Hun, Lord Invader and many, many more.
"Suddenly you had the social commentary emergence age, with artiste who became widely known because they began getting shipped off in 1934 to New York city to record. First Lion and Atilla, then Caresser, and Executor, and several others. Their annual trips resulted in audio documentation of some of the best calypsos of that period."
And the music broadened considerably, in part thanks to Roaring Lion.
"He brought all the new melodies, because there were only 12 melodies," said Eddie Grant. "He and Atilla the Hun, his partner, were great experimenters."
Invader had one of his calypsos covered during World War II. The American forces were in Trinidad, and their presence brought about lots of political songs, including "Rum And Coca Cola," which was a U.S. hit for the Andrews Sisters. It took Invader many years and several lawsuits, to see money from the plundering, and he spent much of that time living and performing in America, writing new material which was as topical as ever.
"There's a richness about calypso as a topical song," said Funk. "One of the most famous from the early years of recording is Atilla the Hun's "Graf Zeppelin," which is about the time it came to Trinidad."
"Suddenly you had the social commentary emergence age, with artiste who became widely known because they began getting shipped off in 1934 to New York city to record. First Lion and Atilla, then Caresser, and Executor, and several others. Their annual trips resulted in audio documentation of some of the best calypsos of that period."
And the music broadened considerably, in part thanks to Roaring Lion.
"He brought all the new melodies, because there were only 12 melodies," said Eddie Grant. "He and Atilla the Hun, his partner, were great experimenters."
Invader had one of his calypsos covered during World War II. The American forces were in Trinidad, and their presence brought about lots of political songs, including "Rum And Coca Cola," which was a U.S. hit for the Andrews Sisters. It took Invader many years and several lawsuits, to see money from the plundering, and he spent much of that time living and performing in America, writing new material which was as topical as ever.
"There's a richness about calypso as a topical song," said Funk. "One of the most famous from the early years of recording is Atilla the Hun's "Graf Zeppelin," which is about the time it came to Trinidad."
