Lord Flea & His Calypsonians - Calypso Be Bop - From the Movie Bop Girl with Judy Tyler. Bobby Troup. Lord Flea and more!
Band lineup:
Lord Flea - leader, singer and guitarist
Porkchops - banjo
Count Spoon - drums and spoons
Prince Charles and Lord Largie - timbali and tumba percussion
Fish Ray - washtub base
In the 1950's, music from the Caribbean was gaining popularity as it continued a process of cross-pollination with other musical styles while its influence spread.
The essence of Jamaican Mento music began to blur while running the risk of disappearing under the umbrella of the Trinidadian Calypso craze, but one of its prime ambassadors in the U.S. was Norman Thomas, a.k.a. Lord Flea.
Lord Flea gained increasing popularity performing with his band at nightclubs in his native Kingston, Jamaica in the early '50's, and the success continued after a move to Miami, Florida.
He was at his peak by 1957, appearing on national TV programs and in films, and releasing this album. (Likely Capitol viewed Lord Flea as their answer to RCA's Harry Belafonte.)
Tragically, Lord Flea was diagnosed with Hodgkin's Disease a couple of years later. He died far too young in 1959, at the age of 25
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Cedric, Thanks very much for educating and enlightening us about our rich culture. WST, is really a treasure we must hold on to, and cherish. I have just gain some valuable knowledge. Thanks again.
.Myself and Othello Molineaux had the honor of performing with the Bass player William Ray a.k.a. Fish Ray and Johnny Ingram a.k.a.Count Spoon (Slick) during the 70's and mid 80,s when they both passed away. The band was called Good Bread Alley and featured a Legendary Bahamian Calypso singer/ guitar player named Cyril Ben Tinker And yes Brenda Hosang that is the Chocolate Princess.
Comments
Thank you for posting this once again.
Special note to Cedric Lucas.. sorry I missed your response that named my Aunty Irma Kirton by her stage name, Chocolate Princess.
Brenda h.
Cedric, Thanks very much for educating and enlightening us about our rich culture. WST, is really a treasure we must hold on to, and cherish. I have just gain some valuable knowledge. Thanks again.
Elsworth.
man,i don't know where you find this old stuff. but it it is FANTASTIC--thank you.-"bandit"
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.Myself and Othello Molineaux had the honor of performing with the Bass player William Ray a.k.a. Fish Ray and Johnny Ingram a.k.a.Count Spoon (Slick) during the 70's and mid 80,s when they both passed away. The band was called Good Bread Alley and featured a Legendary Bahamian Calypso singer/ guitar player named Cyril Ben Tinker And yes Brenda Hosang that is the Chocolate Princess.
Thank you so much for this information and the video. I am in awe of how do you find this stuff and connect our history. Keep up the good work?