Calypso Music in America

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Tracing Calypso music in the United States

1)The West Indian population in New York and the introduction of Calypso to the city and country.

17 pages​

 

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2) The legendary Louis Jordan was one of the first top American acts to embrace Calypso

2 pages​

Songs from 1947/ 48​

Spoiler: performance of song

Spoiler: performance of song

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3)Calypso enters the American mainstream as more acts and institutions embrace the music.

1946​

Spoiler: performance of song

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Caribbean Carnival Broadway Musical 1947

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1950

Spoiler: performance of song

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1956

Spoiler: performance of song

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1956

Spoiler: performance of song

TV PROGRAM 1957

"A Drum Is a Woman is a musical allegory by American pianist, composer and bandleader Duke Ellington and his long-time musical collaborator Billy Strayhorn. It tells the story of Madam Zajj, the personification of African rhythm, and Carribee Joe who has his roots firmly in the jungle with his drums. Zajj travels out into the world seeking fame and sophistication and melds with the influences of cultures she weaves through the story, which gives a brief history of the rise of Jazz and Bebop. Originally recorded for the Columbia label in 1956, it was produced for television on the US Steel Hour on May 8, 1957. The album was re-released on CD in 2004 with a bonus track
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1956

Spoiler: performance of song

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1956

Dec.1,1956 US album charts

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1957

Spoiler: performance of song

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1962

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1965
remake of Calypso Blues appears on the album

Spoiler: performance of song

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List just includes some the top acts with records that put Calypso in the title. Musicians naturally experiment with different sounds and rhythms. The fact that incorporating elements of Calypso into their sets and albums was financially viable lead to more experimentation across genres.

Not included in the list above are the white acts that topped the charts with cover versions of Calypso songs.
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4)A few things happened in the 1960s that altered the popularity of Calypso in the country.
The center of the NYC West Indian community used to be uptown in Harlem, and Trinidadians were among the most culturally dominant groups among WIs.
Brooklyn soon emerged as the center of the WI community, Jamaicans as the most culturally dominant group. Reggae supplanted Calypso in the same way that newer American musical genres supplanted older ones in that era. Bob Marley emerged as an international superstar, promoting reggae across the planet.

In Trinidad, Calypso star Lord Shorty/Ras Shorty branched off and created a new genre, Soca.
Here he speaks about it.


Soca breathed new life into Calypso, appealed to a youth audience that wasn't tuned into the mother genre.

 

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Calypso Music in (North) America​

Event that really helped to promote Calypso in Canada.​

Spoiler: Promotional song recorded by Mighty Bomber

 

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Found out recently, that the original pilot for Gilligan's Island had a calypso type theme song



This was before the pilot was recast and re shot with the song and actors we know.

 

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Sign the Petition

Petition for the Recognition of Calypso and Soca Genres on Streaming Platforms

www.change.org

Time to Recognize Calypso and Soca as Distinctive Genres​

Calypso and Soca Genres on Streaming Platforms


ORLANDO, FL, UNITED STATES, March 14, 2025 / Calypso and Soca, two of the Caribbean's most influential and culturally significant music genres, are calling for recognition as distinct categories within digital music platforms. For over three decades, composers, arrangers, and performers of these genres have faced misclassification, with their music being wrongly labeled under World, International, Reggae, Dancehall, or Caribbean Pop genres.


Despite their growing global presence and cultural influence, this persistent mislabeling overlooks the rich heritage and unique characteristics of Calypso and Soca, which have transcended their Caribbean origins to become global cultural touchstones. The misclassification represents not just a technical issue but a disregard for the history and artistic depth that these genres carry.


Emerging from the Caribbean [Trinidad and Tobago], Calypso has been around for over a century, with Soca taking shape in the late 1970s and early 1980s. These genres have played a foundational role in shaping the cultural landscape of the Caribbean and its diaspora. However, while newer genres such as Dubstep, Reggaeton, and Afrobeats have gained significant recognition, Calypso and Soca continue to be overlooked despite their enduring influence.


By adequately categorizing these genres, the music industry would honor the legacy of artists who have shaped and enriched the global music scene while contributing to a more diverse and inclusive landscape that genuinely represents the richness of Caribbean culture.


A growing movement is pushing to correct this oversight, with digital streaming platforms and aggregators beginning to take action. The aim is to ensure that Calypso, Soca, with subgenres Rapso, Chutney, and Neo Kaiso, are recognized and celebrated for their distinct cultural value.


A petition has been launched to advocate for including Calypso, Soca, and their sub-genres as distinct categories on streaming platforms. Music lovers and fans of Caribbean culture are encouraged to sign the petition and support the rightful recognition of these iconic genres