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Legendary calypso artist Lord Kitchener dies at 77 |
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PORT OF SPAIN, Trinidad (Reuters) - Lord Kitchener, a legendary Caribbean calypso artist who carried the music of his native Trinidad and Tobago to international acclaim, died Friday at age 77, a hospital official said. Kitchener, whose real name was Aldwyn Roberts, succumbed to a severe infection brought on by a blood disorder and organ failure, said Dr. Leslie Ann Roberts, assistant general manager at the Eric Williams Medical Complex on the outskirts of the Trinidad capital. The son of a blacksmith in the eastern Trinidad town of Arima, Kitchener became an international star of calypso, Trinidad's native musical style. Calypso, which is related to reggae, often has satirical or political lyrics and features steel pan drums made of 55 gallon drums. In Arima, Kitchener was first hired to sing calypso for 12 cents but he went on to performances in England after World War II with calypso artists Lion, Atilla and Growling Tiger. His childhood friend, Clifford Danclare, 80, recalled how the budding star regularly led schoolboys in chanting rhymes when his school met opposing teams in sports matches. ``I never saw Kitchener actually learning to play the guitar or the string bass,'' Danclare said. ``All Kitchener's pan melodies came from the blacksmith shop.'' Nicknamed ``Stringbean'' for his lanky physique, Kitchener was a prolific writer and singer whose greatest hits included: ''Green Fig Man,'' ``Chinee never had a VJ day,'' ``The Beat of the Steelband,'' ``Tribute to Spree Simon'' and ``Pan in Harmony.'' Trinidad and Tobago Prime Minister Basdeo Panday told Parliament Friday he had made an offer to Lord Kitchener's relatives to arrange and pay for an official funeral for the ''departed genius,'' with flags flown at half-staff at government buildings. ``Mr Speaker, were it not a breach of protocol, I would petition you, sir, to invite the honorable house to rise in salute to a son of the soil, a brother to us all whose life was lived in lifting the spirit of his people and of the world, for well beyond a half of the twentieth century,'' Panday said. A few years ago fans demanded that Kitchener be honored with the highest award of his homeland, the Trinity Cross, for his contribution to culture. Angry that he was given a lesser award, some fans raised money for a stone statue by now-deceased artist Pat Chu Foon. The work, featuring the legendary calypso artist in his trademark jacket, tie and fedora, stands in the western township outside the Trinidad and Tobago capital, Port of Spain. ``I hope we will now consider a Trinity Cross for him,'' said Finance Minister Brian Kuei Tung, a Kitchener fan. ``It's a pity he has not achieved the Bob Marley-type acclaim internationally. He is a true son of the soil.'' Reuters/Variety |