Lord Kitchener (calypsonian)

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For the First World War leader, see Horatio Kitchener

Lord Kitchener (April 18, 1922 - February 11, 2000) was one of the most internationally famous calypsonians.^[1] Born Aldwyn Roberts in Arima, Trinidad and Tobago, he was the son of blacksmith Stephen and homemaker Albertha. As Kitchener himself said, "I was born a calypsonian."^[2]

Kitchener's success began after he moved to England and he soon became massively popular there. His fame continued throughout the 1950s, when calypso achieved international success. Later, though, he moved towards Soca, a related style, and continued recording until his death. Kitchener's compositions were enormously popular as the chosen selections for steelbands to perform at the annual National Panorama competition during Trinidad Carnival.

His most famous songs include:

Rain-o-rama (also the name he gave to his home in Trinidad)
Pan in A Minor
Sugar Bum Bum (noted as one of the first Soca songs)
Bees' Melody
Dr. Kitch (covered by Judge Dread, Dr. Ring-Ding, and others)
Margie (written for his English wife, Marjorie)
My Wife's Nightie
Toco Band
Pan In the 21st Century
Drink a Rum
67

Kitchener emigrated from Trinidad, spending six months in Jamaica before traveling on the Empire Windrush to the UK. It was during this time (1950's) that he met his wife Marjorie. During this period he built a large following in the expatriate communities from all West Indian isles.

"Kitch" became a very important to figure to those first 5000 West Indian migrants to the UK. His music^[3] spoke of home and a life that they all longed for but in many cases couldn't or wouldn't return to. On June 29 1950, he immortalised the defining moment for many of the migrants in writing 'Cricket, Lovely Cricket.' This was one of the first widely-known West Indian songs, and epitomised an event that historian and cricket enthusiast C. L. R. James defined as crucial to West Indian post-colonial societies. The song, later recorded by Lord Beginner, is rarely credited to Lord Kitchener although Tony Cozier and many who attended the Test at The Oval can attest that it was a Kitch composition.

Later in his life, Kitch lived in obscurity in Manchester. He was found there by a fellow Calypsonian, Mighty Sparrow, who brought him back to Trinidad in 1962. The two calypsonians proceeded to dominate the calypso competitions of the Sixties and Seventies. Lord Kitchener won the road march competition 10 times between 1965 and 1976, more times than any other calypsonian.

For 30 years, Kitchener ran his own calypso tent, Calypso Revue, by which he nurtured the talent of many calypsonians. Calypso Rose, David Rudder, Black Stalin and Denyse Plummer are among the many artists who got their start under Kitchener's tutelage.

Kitchener, who created highly-popular and sweet melodies, is honoured with a statue in Port of Spain. He is buried in the Santa Rosa Cemetery in Arima. A bust of the beloved entertainer is also on display on Hollis Avenue, Arima, not far from the Arima Stadium.

Kitchener's son, Kernel, is also a performer, playing drums for the biggest soca band in the Country, Xtatik. He's also their musical director and composer of the 2006 Road March.