Chalkie plans to save calypso

Dr Hollis Liverpool known in the calypso world as The Mighty Chalkdust performs on stage for one of the local Carnival shows.

Nasser Khan 18/01/2009

Dr Hollis Liverpool (PhD in history and ethnomusicology) is known in the calypso world as The Mighty Chalkdust, or simply “Chalkie,” appropriately so from “dusting blackboards” as a teacher. He has won the Calypso Monarch of T&T seven times, second only to the Mighty Sparrow (eight), capturing the crown in four different decades, in 1976, 1977, 1981, 1989, 1993, 2004 and 2005, in his many Dimanche Gras appearances. Calypsoes such as Brain Drain, Ah Fraid Karl, Ah Put on Mih Guns Again, Juba Doo Bai, Ah Cyar Make, Bring the Ayatollah, Learn to Laugh, Chauffeur Wanted, Kaiso in Hospital, To Hell with the Ministry, I in Town too Long will always be classics.

Dr Hollis Liverpool (PhD in history and ethnomusicology) is known in the calypso world as The Mighty Chalkdust, or simply “Chalkie,” appropriately so from “dusting blackboards” as a teacher. He has won the Calypso Monarch of T&T seven times, second only to the Mighty Sparrow (eight), capturing the crown in four different decades, in 1976, 1977, 1981, 1989, 1993, 2004 and 2005, in his many Dimanche Gras appearances. Calypsoes such as Brain Drain, Ah Fraid Karl, Ah Put on Mih Guns Again, Juba Doo Bai, Ah Cyar Make, Bring the Ayatollah, Learn to Laugh, Chauffeur Wanted, Kaiso in Hospital, To Hell with the Ministry, I in Town too Long will always be classics.

Biting lyrics

He has recorded more than 30 albums, more than 350 calypsoes, “academic papers,” as he calls them, and is noted for his biting lyrics and stinging political commentaries. This year promises no less, according to him. He has won the Buy Local Competition in Trinidad five times, the King of the World Calypso Contest in St Thomas, USVI, on eight occasions, and the World Calypso Monarch in New York, twice.

In 1977, he was awarded the Humming Bird Silver Medal. He is an associate professor of history at University of Trinidad and Tobago (UTT), where he was named a distinguished fellow in 2006 and served as associate professor of social science at University of the Virgin Islands, from 2000 to 2007.

He taught at primary and secondary schools in Trinidad and Tobago for 35 years, and has served in the Ministry of Culture as Cultural Officer III and Director of Culture between 1993 and 1999, when he retired from the Public Service. He has authored the books Rituals of Power and Rebellion: The Carnival Tradition in Trinidad and Tobago, and From the Horse’s Mouth, a socio-cultural history of calypso from 1900 to 2003, and has addressed worldwide many conferences and given many lectures on carnival and culture.

More books in the works are Calypso Backstage, The Colonial Media and Tubal Uriah Butler, Tears in the Classroom, A Biography of Lord Kitchener, and the Age of Badjohnism. At UTT, he is part of an ongoing series entitled: Saving the Calypso, which pays tribute to stalwarts in the arena such as Duke, Striker, Bomber, Ed Watson, Cito Fermin, Sundar Popo, Brigo, Shadow, Bryner, Composer.

Deeply religious and a horse-racing fan, Chalkdust is a fitness buff, calling himself a “Chancellor freak,” referring to his frequent walks up Lady Chancellor Hill, which he has been doing for the past 20 years.
The Guardian caught up with him recently:

Q: What are your “calypso” plans for 2009? What are some of the topics you will be singing about?
A: I am currently preparing the tracks at the studio, and will be releasing a number of songs, among them my commentaries on Rowley and Manning, Barack Obama and the Minister of Culture, Marlene Mc Donald.

What calypso-related work are you doing at UTT, other than the “Saving the Calypso” series?
I am working on a proposal for a master’s degree programme in Carnival studies, and I’m very excited about this prospect, which will be beneficial to the survival of the art form.

What are your greatest accomplishments in your various fields of endeavour?
Writing and publishing my own books; gaining my PhD; paying off my mortgage debts to the bank for my home.

At what schools/institutions did you receive your education?
Patience Hill RC School, Nelson Street Boys’ RC, St Mary’s College, Government Training College for Teachers, University of the West Indies, University of Michigan.

Born and grew up where?
Born in Chaguaramas; grew up in Laventille, Patience Hill, and Belmont.

What advice would you give to the young people of Trinidad and Tobago?
Study hard; educate yourself to the fullest, and obey constituted authority.

What daily motto/credo do you live by, and in three words, your recipe for success?
Without God, I can do nothing. Courage, knowledge and wisdom.

What are your most prized possessions, tangible and intangible?
My family: wife, children and grandchildren; my knowledge of history and the other social sciences.

Do you support changing of the dates for Carnival?
Not at all! Anyone who supports a change in the date for Carnival does not understand Carnival; they understand money, that’s all.

After all these years, what keeps you going in calypso?
What keeps me going is the feedback I get from admirers, fans, students and people in general. People approach me in the street and give me topics to sing on. Some come to me with all their problems, hoping that I can solve them or, at least offer them hope and consolation. All such happenings keep me going.

How did you get into calypso and into teaching, lecturing and writing?
I got into calypso through composing songs for Intercol football in 1954 as a student at St Mary’s College. King Radio was my favourite calypsonian at that time. I got into teaching I would say when God spoke to me through the voice of a priest who knew very little of me. Lecturing and writing came through my studies in history and ethnomusicology.

What two calypsoes would you perform for a first-time listening audience (one yours, the other not)?
Hmmm..I would do Black Inventions and Duke’s What is Calypso.

http://www.guardian.co.tt/archives/features/entertainment/2009/01/18/chalkie-plans-save-calypso

You need to be a member of When Steel Talks to add comments!

Join When Steel Talks

Votes: 0
Email me when people reply –