Keeping Kitch’s legacy alive

Keeping Kitch’s legacy alive
Dixie-Ann Dickson, Published: Tuesday, 16 February 2010, Trinidad Guardian
http://guardian.co.tt/features/entertainment/2010/02/16/keeping-kitch-s-legacy-alive

Even before he was born, Kernal Roberts was destined to follow in his father’s footsteps. Exemplifying the phrase, like father like son, Valerie Green, Kernal’s mother, said her son possessed the same qualities and talent as his famous father. Noting that Kernal’s music also mirrored that of his late dad, a proud Green said it was a blessing and honour to have known Kitchener and to have a son like Kernal.

Tribute to Kitch

Kernal said he was committed to keeping his father’s legacy alive. It has been ten years since the nation lost one of its greatest cultural icons, Lord Kitchener. The Grandmaster, as he was fondly known, died February 11, 2000. Although the calypso fraternity has already paid a number of tributes to him on the tenth anniversary of his death, Kernal has bigger plans. Describing what he plans to be a grand affair, he said his tribute to his father is scheduled for the Centre for Performing Arts in April—the weekend before Kitchener’s April 18 birthday.

Kernal said the tribute would be similar to a Broadway show and would highlight his father’s contributions while he lived in London. A prolific writer like his father, Kernal continues to keep the legacy alive. Despite his many successes, he said people should not compare him to Kitch, who he described as the greatest pan composer and melodian. Already having won two road march titles—with Band of the Year, sung by Machel Montano and Patrice Roberts, and Montano’s Jumbie—it seems as if Kernal is in line for another one this year, with the popular tune, Palance. He said he wrote the song in five minutes—a feat which he said was inspired by God. For C2K10, he has also added Police in the Session, sung by DJ turned soca artiste Shal, to his list of hits.

Coming into his own

“Even though I am keeping my father’s legacy alive, at the same time I am building my own,” Kernal said. “I have been concentrating on building my soca career, as the field of soca is a more lucrative genre.” Kernal, who has been fortunate to acquire his father’s musical genes, has plans of breaking through to the international circuit. He said taking soca music to the world stage was his ultimate goal.