Lord Nelson - 2005

Lord Nelson is a musical innovator who is regarded as the inventor and architect of soca music. His recordings stand out because of their rhythmic sophistication, variety in arrangement and lyrics, and integration of African, reggae and American r&b into the soca pulse. As the composer of over 300 calypsoes, Nelson is a living legend with the great calypso tradition of The Mighty Sparrow and Lord Kitchener. Yet, Nelson manages to constantly inject fresh sounds and rhythms into the soca sound.

Born Robert Nelson in Plymouth, Tobago, he emigrated to the United States as a teenager, thus from an early stage he was exposed to a variety of musical and cultural influences. He served in the Korean War where he did a little singing for his troops. In the late 50s he began playing with a stateside steelband but singing took center stage due to great audience response. His meeting with Sparrow and Duke in 1963 influenced him to carve out a niche for himself in the calypso world. Duke was especially inspirational to Nelson.

Nelson's early calypso hits had a unique sound, strongly influenced by American funk. Garrot Bounce, Stella, King Liar, Bald Head Rasta, and Disco Daddy, were so innovative that Nelson was heralded as a the best loved calypsonian. He was also the first to introduce electronic instruments in his music.

Nelson was in the center of controversy when it was ruled that because he had become a U.S. citizen, he was barred from competing at Trinidad & Tobago's Calypso Monarch. Nelson took it all in stride, penning the calypso classic Foreigner.

He eventually wrote the top soca hits of the century, spanning carnivals throughout the Caribbean, US and England in 1983 and 1984. Meh Lover dominated the calypso and soca worlds urging folks to have a good, good time. All over the world audiences were asking for Lord Nelson. Nelson was only happy to oblige; with award winning performances on the stages of London, Amsterdam, Toronto (Caribana), South America and parts in between. When the popular French magazine Actuel did a story on the new soca music, they flew Nelson and band in to do a five city tour of France which included Actuel's huge celebration in Paris with Manu Dibango. Adoring fans in Sweden have enjoyed Nelson's talent, too.

Last year, Nelson was honored by the City Council of New York and this year he was given a special tribute at the popular Mother's Day Calypso Extravaganza. In Port of Spain, Nelson was honored with the keys to the city and declared, the People's King. He has also performed at the West Indian American Day Carnival Celebration Labor Day festival, Celebrate Brooklyn in Prospect Park, The Benson & Hedges World Music Tour in New Orleans and Washington, D.C. and the Cartagena Music Festival in Cartagena, Colombia. He was also honored at the Sunshine Awards in New York City and a major presenter at the Caribbean Music Awards held at The Apollo Theater. Nelson performed to a sold out audience at the Apollo Theater's famous Calypso Comes to Harlem show where The Rolling Stones' Mick Jagger made a surprise visit; telling the audience about his love for Nelson's soca music.

Nelson has always kept humor in his lyrics, from the antics of Norman & Audrey to his classic King Liar which was nominated as the most humorous calypso of the century.

From Byron Lee & The Dragonaires to Square One from Barbados, every band and soca singer around the world includes Nelson's La La in their repertoire. This song was the popular road march in Trinidad and Tobago, The Virgin Islands and the entire Caribbean. In addition, the Caribbean embraced Nelson once again when he wrote All Of We is One Family. Machel Montano has recorded Nelson's We Like It and, as a child performer, joined Nelson on the show in Paris, France.

Lover, father and a son of Trinidad & Tobago, Lord Nelson is a standard bearer for excellence in soca music. Today at 75, Nelson is still pushing strong; looking for true recognition of his musical contributions and the opportunity to keep fans around the world happy.