Another old calypso LP from the archives found many years ago in Cheshire Street market, just off Brick Lane. This rarity is on the National label and released in the 60's one imagines though no date on the record. It comes without a sleeve so had to search the internet to find it. What a great sleeve it was too!
"King Fighter (Shurland Wilson) (March 10, 1928 - December 12, 1999)
Born in Victoria Village, on the east coast of Guyana, Wilson got his name, King Fighter, because he was a boxer known for his fancy footwork. Fighter started out as a fisherman, then a boxer, before becoming a calypso singer. He started out singing boleros and love songs before switching to calypsos.
One of his main influences was the Guyanese vaudeville singer Bill Rogers. As for calypso, his favorites were Kitch and Melody and he started singing in Guiana. However, he left and moved to Trinidad because he couldn't make a living in his native country as either a boxer or a singer.
He came to Trinidad in the Fifties and was an active performer, primarily in the OYB tent until the 1980s. He first appeared in Trinidad with fellow Guyanese calypsonian Lord Coffee in 1955 and quickly rose to be a very successful calypso singer. He was a finalist for 1957 monarchy out of the Young Brigade with Smart Woman and Dhalpourie (Indian Wedding). He was singing both his Why BG Don't Want to Federate and Animal Beauty Contest that year. He was recorded extensively on a large of record labels in the Fifties and Sixties on records issued both in British Guiana, Trinidad and in England."
Discover more about King Fighter HERE.
King Fighter - Wash The Plate
King Fighter - Senorita Cindy
King Fighter - Quarkey
King Fighter - Peace
King Fighter - They Want Me
King Fighter - Beat Me
King Fighter - Lovely Country
King Fighter - You Does Come Too Soon
King Fighter - Dollar Bill
King Fighter - Envy
These SendSpace files are available for seven days or until exhausted.
SWAPATORIUM: Musical Highlights From R.K. Films
Oooh, more calypso. You are my favorite person right about now! Thanks!
ReplyDeleteYou are welcome baikinange. I have a few more old calypso and soca LP's I will try and feature in the months ahead.
ReplyDeleteI love this stuff.
ReplyDeleteoulala !! What a site, j'adore toute cette musique !!
ReplyDeleteThanks for dropping by mrbalihai and ecototo. Much appreciated.
ReplyDeleteThanks for the bantous lp. Is it possible to re upload the king Fighter, please/
ReplyDeleteThanks.
KA
I'm sure that can be arranged at some point. Thanks for feedback ken-yatta.
ReplyDeleteHi,
ReplyDeleteI just found your post of King Fighter through Schadenfreudian Therapy.
I would like to have the other songs from that album beside the one's posted there with your permission.
Would you be so kind to send me the missing songs or all songs from the album, please
I grew up with this music back home.
check out my 3 blogs.
http://bentheballadeer.blogspot.com/
my email is:
theballadeer@gmail.com
Expect a re-post at some point soon. Thanks for the interest Ben.
ReplyDeleteKing Fighter was a frequent visitor of Suriname. He lived there for a short period. He could speak the local language some and has recorded several songs in that language. Quarky (should be Kwarkie = 25 cents) is one of those songs. Listen closely and you'll hear something different then the usual Jamaican English. He also has a song "Suriname" from '66. Fighter even did radio-ads in Suriname.
ReplyDeleteHi,
ReplyDeleteI mist the repost and I can't get the missing songs I have only 5 (Wash The Plate/Senorita Cindy/Dollar Bill/Quarky/Peace.
If it's not to much to ask could you please, please, please, pleeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeaaaaaaaaaaasssssssssssssssssssssseeeeeeeeeeeee
reactivate the others ONCE MORE FOR ME
I've looked for a while but then forget about it, I expected you to make a comment after you had placed the other tunes, so I subscribed, but there was no comment after my last comment some time ago, I guess thats why I missed it.
a million thanks in advance
Ben
I will see if i can find it again. I wouldnt mind hearing it myself!
ReplyDeleteYou're the best ;-)
ReplyDeleteI missed the re-post too. BTW, King Fighter sings in Guyanese english, which we call creolese.
ReplyDeleteThanks
Right under that yellow sticker is the date very large - 1967. You can see part of the 7 on the right. It's a shame none of the songs are available anymore, I would love to hear them! King Fighter does have a handful of songs you can listen to / buy on mp3 from Pandora though.
ReplyDelete