published with the expressed permission of the author
(Originally published in the Sunday Express)
© 2021 - All Rights Reserved
I imagine that like me, most calypso aficionados first became aware of the existence of the late Winsford ‘Joker’ Devine when, in 1980, a virtually unknown calypsonian, ‘King’ Austin Lewis, emerged as a favourite for the calypso monarch title in his debut appearance, singing Devine’s record-breaking composition, ‘Progress’. The affable Austin didn’t win the title, running second to accomplished performer Lord Relator.
But ‘Progress’ shot to the top of the charts with its poetry-like construct and haunting melody, that made it so infectious, it triggered a musical pandemic long before we knew what a pandemic was.
Twenty years later, in the year 2000, ‘Progress’ was acclaimed the Calypso of the 20th Century across the world, wherever calypso was recognized as an important genre of music. And Austin’s open recognition of ‘Joker’ as the composer of the song and its music, brought into the focus a genius, a virtual Bard of Trinidad (and Tobago, if you all behave nicely!), who had already stamped his larger than life influence on the art form, only most of the public did not know it, or know him, even as they danced, ‘wined’ to his poetry-delivered-with-saucy-lyrics, dressed with must-dance melodies.
The Joker, as Devine was fondly called, ran wild,
It took his passing last Thursday, though, to tear-open a cupboard full of skeletons, to expose to the world charlatans and quacks who masqueraded as master-calypsonians, or master-calypsonians who did not always sing their own compositions, but were never honest enough to give credit to the composers of the songs they sang.
As radio stations devoted much of the afternoon programming to honour him by playing his compositions, and I found myself among the mass of calypso fans who listened. Suddenly, I heard Sparrow belt out ‘Drunk and Disorderly’ which Birdie never credited Joker as being its composer. The story of that song tells the sordid side of the entertainment industry, of senior calypsonians who exploited his ‘Country Bookie’ innocence, who bought his inspired compositions for the proverbial song, never crediting him as composer of the lyrics and music. In an interview with TriniSoca.com in 2007, he spoke of putting ‘about 50 songs’ on a ‘reel-to-reel’ tape, a friend taking him to veteran tent manager Syl Taylor, who, after listening to samples, ‘bought the whole tape and gave me $360’.
One song he had titled ‘Drunkard Calypso’. Sparrow would sing it as ‘Drunk and Disorderly’ in 1972, never crediting Joker as the composer. It was a huge hit. Cut. Enter this kaiso-fanatic, yuh boy self, listening to that song way back when, saying to myself that Sparrow ‘is a borse composer’…couldn’t believe my ears. Check dis: ‘Dey never teach me rum control/so put as much mih glass could hold/dey say ah hungry man is ah angry man/a drunken man is a happy man/Good Friday could fall on Ash Wednesday/as long as is Rum Day, I ‘ent goin’ no way…’ What eloquent description of a drunkard.
Back to Joker being taken for...well, a joke. Take ‘Phillip My Dear’, a super-classic, and again, lyrics to kill for: It’s a risqué take on an incident in Buckingham Palace when a near-vagrant stole into Her Majesty’s chambers one night in 1982. Sparrow sang, with confidence and authority: ‘…(Phillip my dear)…There was a man in my bedroom/wearing your shoe/trying on the royal costume/dipping in the royal perfume/…loaded with brew/Yes, this malodorous urchin/on top of my bed was perching/like a cockatoo…’
Literary genius!
Now, there were always stories of Blakie, Sparrow and others buying songs outright, many times for the value a verse or cheaper, certainly much less than the proverbial song, and not giving even credit to the composers. Except this was no run-of-the-mill composer. Joker’s imagination was wild. His vocabulary was immense. And while he was not perfect in English usage (who is?), the volume of work he churned out is unimaginable—some 500 calypsoes.
William Shakespeare, the Bard of Stratford-on-Avon, produced in contrast just 38 plays and 150 poems. And while it is true that plays are lengthy and complex, he didn’t have to add melodies to them. Devine not merely added music, his melodies were…sweet. Think of songs such as ‘Somebody’ (Baron), which 28 steelbands chose to play at Panorama 1989; ‘Queen of the Bands’ which Sparrow recorded in 1971; Sailing; In time to come; Maharajin; Memories; Who will guard the guards? And a thousand more.
For reasons advanced above, and many more manifestations of the impact Devine had on local music, he should have been accorded greater honour. The doctorate conferred on him by The UWI was a fitting gesture. But some agency or NGO should ensure that the intellectual property rights that are due to him by this huge body of work that he has left as his legacy, yield appropriate recompense for his family.
Also, awarding him The ORTT posthumously would be a nice gesture.
Gifted men like Joker Devine pass this way only once in a lifetime. Count ourselves fortunate to have known him and enjoyed his incomparable lyrics and music.
Replies
@ 911.. That is a real bitter personality you are displaying.. makes one wonder why.
According to Ken Jarvis... one day everyone will know about your gift for writing. Now that is enough praise for some ppl because beating their own chest was never an option for them.
Brenda H.
Now i might be wrong but they say that Mr Devine wrote over 500 to 600 tunes for Artist.Without getting any Money.
Now STOP why didnt he not stop writing for them.when at first he didnt get any Money.That was stupit of him,So why bring that up now.
There are other WRITERS who rote for many calypsonians many still alive ,that is not giving credit to the writer of their hits ....I remember telling joker at seamen one night "THE TRUTH WILL ALWAY SURFACE SOME DAY " you see he was not the only one but he was the best ,
Excellent Raffique Shah, it drew my tears as well as my laughter. Is Dr Devine's collection organized and slated to be preserved in a museum of our music? Do we have one? The past is a loving memory for those who lived it. We do not seem to want to make its link to the present relevant for posterity? Which organization is working on revering the musical marvels of people like Dr Devine and others who have passed on? Our country needs to leave certain things alone and attend to the Soul. Condolences to all.