Invader became active in calypso in the mid-1930s. He wrote many calypsos; his most famous, Rum and Coca Cola, was plagiarized by Morey Amsterdam and became a hit for the Andrews Sisters. Invader travelled to New York and sued, eventually winning compensation, although the song is still credited to Amsterdam.
He is often credited with writing Zombie Jamboree, although there is no evidence he actually wrote the song.
The following disks give a good idea of his work:
Calypso in New York (Smithsonian Folkways 40454) is a collection of Invader's recordings across his whole career.
Calypso at Midnight and Calypso After Midnight come from a live recording organized by Alan Lomax in New York in 1946.
Calypso War, Kings of Calypso, and Trojan Calypso boxed set all feature the same set of songs recorded in the United Kingdom in the 1950s.
Folkways recordings also have a number of CDs that Invader recorded in the late 1950s in New York.
Most famous as the composer of "Rum and Coca-Cola," LordInvader was a popular calypso performer in both his native Trinidad and New York, recording from the late '30s through the early '60s.
LordInvader sued for plagiarism, the case eventually getting decided in his favor in 1947, although he didn't receive money from the defendants for seven years.
As with many other calypso singers of that and other eras, LordInvader was skilled at devising songs with social and political commentary, as well as singing more conventional lyrics based on romantic situations, or based upon traditional folk songs.
Bio: Most famous as the composer of "Rum and Coca-Cola," LordInvader was a popular calypso performer in both his native Trinidad and New York, recording from the late '30s through the early '60s.
LordInvader sued for plagiarism, the case eventually getting decided in his favor in 1947, although he didn't receive money from the defendants for seven years.
As with many other calypso singers of that and other eras, LordInvader was skilled at devising songs with social and political commentary, as well as singing more conventional lyrics based on romantic situations, or based upon traditional folk songs.
Feeds |
Contact