The Mighty Duke

Mighty Duke
Birth name Kelvin Pope
Born 1932 (1932)
Port Fortin, Trinidad and Tobago
Died 14 January 2009 (aged 76)
Genres Calypso
Years active 1950s–2009

Kelvin Pope, better known as The Mighty Duke (1932 – 14 January 2009)[1] was a Trinidadian calypsonian. He was born in Point Fortin.

Career

Born in Port Fortin in 1932, Pope was a former school teacher who left a career working at Shell Oil to perform calypso music.[1][2] In the 1950s, he played locally in his hometown, then began playing in San Fernando at the Southern Brigade Calypso Tent. In 1964 he relocated to Port of Spain and performed at the Original Young Brigade.[2]

He won the National Calypso King title for four years straight (1968–71), the only person to achieve the feat: In 1968 with "What Is Calypso" and "Social Bacchanal", in 1969 with "Black Is Beautiful" and "One Foot Visina", then in 1970 singing "Brotherhood of Man" and "See Through" and finally, in 1971 he won the competition performing "Mathematical Formula" and "Melvine & Yvonne".[1][2][3][4] Furthermore he was noted for exploring ideas such as black consciousness, apartheid, and global politics in his lyrics.[1][2] Lord Nelson was one of many for whom he composed music.

In 1970, he was awarded the Silver Hummingbird Medal for his contribution to calypso.[1]

In 1987, his soca song "Thunder" was awarded the Road March prize.[1][2][4][5]

Pope died on 14 January 2009, aged 76, in St. Clair (Port-of-Spain), Trinidad and Tobago of myelofibrosis, which he had been battling for five years.[1]

Discography

Singles

Albums

References

  1. 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 A Long Life in Calypso. Trinidad Express, January 15, 2009.
  2. 1 2 3 4 5 Thompson, Dave (2002) Reggae & Caribbean Music, Backbeat Books, 0-87930-655-6, pp. 183–184
  3. ↑ Chapman, Anthony J.; Foot, Hugh C. (1995) Humor and Laughter: Theory, Research and Applications, Transaction Publishers, ISBN 978-1560008378, p. 278
  4. 1 2 "The Mighty Duke", ncctt.org. Retrieved 20 May 2016
  5. ↑ Scaramuzzo, Gene "Mighty Duke Biography", Allmusic. Retrieved 20 May 2016
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