Russ Henderson

A strange mixture of styles on this Allegro Lp from 1966 I bought today at a boot sale. Mostly generic calypso but padded out with steel band and west indian drums on a couple of instrumental tracks. Also some ska thrown in for good measure.

His website says -

"Russ Henderson was born in the Belmont Neighbourhood of Port of Spain, Trinidad, in 1924. By the 1940s he had formed his own band, the Russ Henderson Quartet. The group became well known and loved throughout the island, delighting dance halls and clubs with their rhythm and soul.

Russel came to England from his home town of Port of Spain in 1951 to study piano tuning at the North London Polytechnic in Holloway Road. An agent persuaded him to form another band after hearing him play the steel pan. So, Russ Henderson and his Trinidadian Steel Band was formed and a gloomy post-war Britain lit up to the sound of the Caribbean.

Russ Henderson receiving an MBE for Services to Music

Over the coming years, Russ set about embedding Caribbean music in the British culture. He taught school children how to play steel pan and lead his band into starting the Notting Hill Carnival. He toured the country with his band, playing on television shows, in films, in clubs, at Cambridge University balls and even at Prince Andrew's 21st birthday party at Windsor Castle. He was recently knighted as MBE by Prince Charles and now in his 80s, he is still a regular performer at the jazz connisseur's 606 Club in Lots Road, Chelsea."

Tracks are -

Side One.

1. Walking The Dog
2. Coconut Woman
3. Yellow Bird
4. Stone Cold Dead In De Market
5. Peanut Vendor

Side Two.

1. Sammy Dead Oh!
2. Non Ho L'eta Per Amarti
3. Marienne
4. Jamaica Farewell
5. West Indian Drums


Russ Henderson - Side One

Russ Henderson - Side Two