Lord Kitchener (calypsonian) facts for kids

Quick facts for kids Lord Kitchener
Background information
Birth name	Aldwyn Roberts
Born	(1922-04-18)18 April 1922 Arima, Trinidad and Tobago
Died	11 February 2000(2000-02-11) (aged 77) Port of Spain, Trinidad and Tobago
Genres	Calypso soca
Occupation(s)	Calypsonian
Labels	RCA Victor Trinidad Charlie's JW Productions

Aldwyn Roberts (born April 18, 1922 – died February 11, 2000) was a famous musician from Trinidad and Tobago. He was much better known by his stage name, Lord Kitchener, or simply "Kitch". People often called him "the grand master of calypso" because he was one of the greatest calypso singers after World War II.

Who Was Lord Kitchener?

Lord Kitchener was a legendary calypsonian. A calypsonian is a singer who writes and performs calypso songs. Calypso is a style of music that started in Trinidad and Tobago. It often tells stories, shares news, or makes comments about society. Kitchener was known for his clever lyrics and catchy tunes.

Early Life and Musical Start

Aldwyn Roberts was born in Arima, Trinidad and Tobago. His father was a blacksmith, and his mother was a housewife. He went to school until he was 14 years old. Sadly, his father passed away when Aldwyn was young.

His father had taught him to sing and play the guitar. After his father's death, Aldwyn became a full-time musician. His first job was playing guitar for workers laying pipes. He became popular in Arima with songs like "Shops Close Too Early". He also joined a band called the Sheriff Band as their main singer. Between 1938 and 1942, he won the local calypso competition five times.

Journey to England and Global Fame

In 1943, Kitchener moved to Port of Spain, the capital city. There, he joined a group called the Roving Brigade. A music promoter named Johnny Khan heard him sing. Khan invited him to perform at his Victory Tent. It was there that he met another calypsonian, Growling Tiger. Tiger decided that Aldwyn should be known as Lord Kitchener.

Kitchener quickly became known for his new ideas in music and lyrics. He often sang songs that criticized the British government. During World War II, American soldiers stationed in Trinidad loved his music. This led to him performing in New York. After the war, in 1946, Kitchener won his first official "Road March" title. This is a big award for the most popular song played during the Trinidad and Tobago Carnival. His winning song was "Jump In The Line".

Becoming a UK Music Star

From 1947 to 1948, Kitchener toured Jamaica. Then, in 1948, he traveled to England on a famous ship called the Empire Windrush. When he arrived, he sang a special song he wrote called "London Is the Place for Me". He even sang it live for a news report!

Within two years, he was performing regularly on BBC radio. He was also very popular for live shows. Throughout the 1950s, he became a big star in the UK. He had many fans among people from the West Indies living there. Songs like "Kitch" and "Food from the West Indies" were big hits. He also remained popular back home in Trinidad and Tobago.

Calypso's International Reach

The 1950s were a time when calypso music became famous around the world. Lord Kitchener was very important to the first 5,000 West Indian migrants who moved to the UK. His music reminded them of home. It spoke about the life they missed but often couldn't return to.

He wrote a famous song called "Victory Calypso" with the words "Cricket, Lovely Cricket". This song celebrated the West Indies cricket team's first win against England in England in 1950. This was a huge moment for West Indian communities.

Kitchener even opened a nightclub in Manchester, England. He also had a popular show at The Sunset in London. He performed in the United States again in the mid-1950s.

Return to Trinidad and Calypso King

In 1962, Lord Kitchener moved back to Trinidad. There, he and another famous calypsonian, Mighty Sparrow, became the top stars. They dominated the calypso competitions throughout the 1960s and 1970s. Lord Kitchener won the Road March competition 10 times between 1963 and 1976. This is more than any other calypsonian!

For 30 years, he ran his own calypso tent called Calypso Revue. This was a place where he helped new calypso singers get started. Many famous artists like Calypso Rose and David Rudder began their careers with Kitchener's help.

The Rise of Soca Music

Later in his career, Kitchener started to explore soca. Soca is a newer style of music that is related to calypso. He continued to record music until he passed away. His songs were very popular choices for steelpan bands to play. These bands compete in the annual National Panorama competition during Trinidad Carnival.

In 1975, he won his only Calypso King title with his song "Tribute to Spree Simon". He stopped competing in 1976. Kitchener saw that soca music was becoming popular in the late 1970s. He started making soca albums. In 1977, he recorded his most successful song, "Sugar Bum Bum". This song became a huge hit for the 1978 Trinidad Carnival season. It was one of the first major soca hits.

His Last Years and Legacy

In 1993, people started a campaign to get Kitchener the highest award in Trinidad, the Trinity Cross. The government offered him a different award, but he turned it down.

Lord Kitchener was diagnosed with bone marrow cancer. He retired in 1999 after releasing his last album, Vintage Kitch. He passed away on February 11, 2000, from a blood infection and kidney failure. He is buried in the Santa Rosa Cemetery in Arima.

Throughout his career, Kitchener always wanted new experiences for his music. This led him to perform in places like Curaçao, Aruba, and Jamaica. He once said, "I have reached the height of my popularity in Trinidad. What am I doing here? I should make a move."

Today, Lord Kitchener is honored with a statue in Port of Spain. There is also a bust (a sculpture of his head and shoulders) in Arima, near the Arima Stadium.

Lord Kitchener's Family

In 1952, Lord Kitchener met Elsie Lines, and they married in 1953. They lived in Manchester, England, for a while, where Kitchener ran a nightclub. They later divorced in 1968. He then married Valerie Green and had four children with her: Christian, Kernel, Quweina, and Kirnister Roberts.

Kitchener's son, Kernal Roberts, is also a musician. He played drums for a soca band called Xtatik in the early 2000s. Kernal is also a musical director and has written many winning soca songs.

Major Music Wins

Lord Kitchener won many awards for his music. Here are some of his biggest wins:

See also

• Jump in the Line (Shake, Señora)
• List of calypsos with sociopolitical influences