Lord Kitchener Scores A Century

Lord Kitchener Scores A Century
Peter Ray Blood, IEntLive.com, (iEnt Digital Marketing), Friday, April 15th, 2022
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Come Easter Monday, April 18, late Grandmaster Lord Kitchener would have celebrated his 100th birthday. Christened Aldwyn Roberts, Lord Kitchener was born in Arima, Trinidad, and is one of the most accomplished and loved icons of calypso and T&T culture. The son of blacksmith Stephen and housewife Albertha, he attended Arima Boys' Government School until the age of 14. Young Aldwyn was tutored to play the guitar and sing by his father. At the age of 16, he won the Arima Borough Council's calypso competition for the first time in 1938.

At age 21, Kitchener moved to Port-of-Spain and was recruited into the Roving Brigade calypso tent where he sang "Green Fig." He was subsequently invited to perform at Johnny Khan's Victory Tent where he became friends with calypso heavyweight of the time, Growling Tiger, assuming the moniker Lord Kitchener as well. During World War II, Lord Kitchener became a regular and popular entertainer, performing for US troops. Winning just one National Calypso Monarch title through his 63-year career, Lord Kitchener became a legend in winning the equally prestigious Road March title, doing so on 11 occasions as well as asserting himself as the most preferred calypsonian for producing calypsoes for steelbands.

Lord Kitchener won his first official Road March title with "Jump in the Line," in 1946, at the age of 24. In 1947, he embarked on a concert tour to Jamaica with Lord Beginner and Lord Woodbine. In 1948, he and Beginner boarded the Empire Windrush vessel and sailed to Britain, a voyage that would not just make Lord Kitchener a living legend but would shape and define the narrative of calypso history and lore.

Having performed his iconic "London is the Place for Me," Lord Kitchener became a regular performer and in-demand main course on BBC Radio and the British concert circuit. He ruled the calypso roost in the UK throughout the '50s, establishing himself as the preeminent and signature cultural ambassador for calypso and T&T in Europe. He also became an entrepreneur, opening a nightclub in Manchester.

Lord Kitchener returned to Trinidad in 1962 and set about dominating calypso and the Road March competition for two decades. Between 1963-1976, Lord Kitchener won the coveted Road March title on ten occasions. Some of his most popular calypsoes have been The Road, Mama This is Mas, My Pussin, Miss Tourist, Margie, Mas in Madison Square Garden, Symphony in G, Rainorama, Tribute to Winston Spree, Flag Woman, Love in the Cemetery, D Toco Band, Bees Melody, Pan in the Dry River and Kakaroach.

No calypsonian has had as intimate relationship with the steelband fraternity as Lord Kitchener has. Between 1964-1977, a dozen winners of the National Panorama competition performed compositions by Lord Kitchener. Lord Kitchener, with Carl "Jazzy" Pantin and Sonny Woodley as his lieutenants, operated the very successful Kitchener Calypso Revue Tent.. Lord Kitchener, who was bestowed with an honorary doctorate, was also the recipient of the Hummingbird Medal (Gold).

Lord Kitchener is survived by his son Kernel who continues to keep his father's legacy alive by also being a prolific composer, producer and entertainer. He also curates the Lord Kitchener Museum, housed at Rainorama Palace, in Diego Martin. Commemorating Lord Kitchener, SAO Soca Awards and Colin Jackman are holding a year of celebrations commencing on Good Friday with All Things Kitchener Pre-launch A Concert. This event takes place at the Sundar Popo Auditorium, SAPA, San Fernando. A grand celebration of Lord Kitchener's birthday will be held by SAO on Easter Monday at the panyard of Arima Angel Harps, at 4 p.m. Among the artistes billed on its star-studded cast are Kernel Roberts, Baron, Crazy, Sugar Aloes, Terri Lyons, Gypsy, Skatie, Dereck Seales, Impulse, Alicia Jagassar, pannist Dane Gulston and more.