Lord invader biography

Lord Invader (Rupert Westmore Grant; 13 December 1914 – 15 October 1961) was a.
Born Rupert Westmore Grant in Port-of-Spain, Trinidad, on December 13, 1914, Grant grew up around San Fernando and began improvising calypsos at a young age.
Trinidadian calypso star most famous for writing "Rum and Coca-Cola." Read Full Biography Active 1930s - 1960s Born December 13, 1914 in San Fernando, Trinidad.

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The history of 20th century calypso music is one strikingly well-recorded and analyzed, owing much to both its explicit sociopolitical nature and its global popularity. Calypsonian Lord Invader embodies both of these qualities. Coming from a rural background and therefore seen as less sophisticated than many of his contemporary, his lyrics nevertheless pull no punches, cutting and incisive even today. Smithsonian Folkways’ new vinyl reissue of his 1960 album Calypso Travelsreminds us of that clearly.

Lord Invader (né Rupert Westmore Grant) has plenty to say on Calypso Travels, commenting on colonialism in his homeland of Trinidad and Tobago, local Trinidadian culture and cultural shifts, global politics, and his travels in Europe. While his point of view doesn’t always age well, he certainly makes himself clear. His gender politics, in particular, are a little difficult to listen to here in 2020. “My Experience on the Reeperbahn” relays the story of a night spent with a person Lord Invader describes as a feminine-presenting man, and while it’s pl

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Lord Invader was one of the best known calypsonians of his time. He traveled around the world refining his art and promoting calypso music, in spite of his humble beginnings.

Born Rupert Westmore Grant in Port-of-Spain, Trinidad, on December 13, 1914, Grant grew up around San Fernando and began improvising calypsos at a young age. Labeled a "country boy" by his fellow Trinidadians, Grant had great aspirations. Grant's tailor, supportive of the rising local star, gave Grant his moniker by commenting, "I tell you, Rupert, you should call yourself Lord Invader so when you go up to the city you be invadin' the capital." With that, Grant returned to his birthplace and Trinidad's capital, Port-of-Spain, in 1937.

The many carnivals and parades in Port-of-Spain gave the city its prominent position in the calypso music world. Calypso music was developed in parades as competing bands strived to gain popular acclaim. Bands obtained lead singers, known as chantwells, to invoke call and response songs and increase audience participation. These chantwells eventually broke away from t

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Subject: Biography: Lord Invader's day job?
From:MorwenEdhelwen1
Date: 15 Apr 11 - 07:28 PM

Does anyone know any concrete information about what Lord Invader's job was when he wasn't singing? Many calypsonians had other jobs as well. Lord Executor, another calypso pioneer, is said to have been a clerk, and King Radio, another calypsonian closely associated with Invader, was a dockworker (though I don't know what he did specifically). I know that Invader (whose music I found on YouTube and who I now consider a great calypsonian and songwriter) travelled to America twice, once in the 1930s and again in the 1940s for a lawsuit over "Rum and Coca-Cola". When he went to America he was able to make money from singing at the Caribbean Club. Some of the older posters here may have known (or be) prominent figures of the American folk revival. I'm wondering if any of those posters, especially those who met or knew Alan Lomax, also met and/or knew Lord Invader, and if he ever told anyone he knew in America about his life in Trinidad before he became a calypsonian.