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Kelvin 'Mighty Duke' Pope
Born a Pope, Crowned a King, Named a Duke...
November 05, 2007
...sings Duane O'Connor; what greater tribute can one pay to a composer/performer par excellence in the calibre of His Excellency Kelvin Pope? The fact that he was born a Pope and got the name Duke before his advent into Calypsodom is largely significant and invokes the phrase 'Divine Destiny'.
Continue to: 'Born a Pope, Crowned a King, Named a Duke...'
Harps of Gold: A tribute to the Mighty Duke
October 26, 2007
"Duke has sung and mastered every genre of the Calypso art: smut, commentary, humour, Road March, Pan songs and philosophy. His measured lines, beautiful melodies and well-chosen lyrics have served to establish him as one of the all time greats in Calypso." These sentiments, printed on the programme, captured the outpouring of accolades expressed to Duke as the University of Trinidad and Tobago (UTT), in conjunction with the Network Community Organization, hosted a tribute to the Mighty Duke titled "Harps of Gold" at the Central Bank Auditorium on Wednesday 24th October, 2007.
Continue to: 'Harps of Gold: A tribute to the Mighty Duke'
The Mighty Duke Speaks
October 03, 2007
Kelvin Pope, known in the Calypso world as 'The Mighty Duke', is a legendary Calypsonian whose work spans a period of over fifty years. Born in 1930 in Point Fortin, south Trinidad, 'Duke' grew up in a period that was marked by striking workers who challenged the colonial authorities by protesting against working conditions, wages, racism and exploitation in the oilfields. Growing up in this turbulent period would have a lasting impact on Kelvin Pope and the music that he would create in years to come. His serious Calypsos reflect a spirit of resistance that is still very much alive up to this day. Influenced by Calypso stalwarts like 'Lord Syncopator', 'Mighty Spoiler', 'Mighty Cypher' and 'Lord Kitchener', 'Duke' has, over the years, become renowned not only for delivering social commentary, political and witty, humorous songs with equal skill, dignity and lyrical mastery but also for his stately stage presence and for being one of the best-dressed Calypsonians to this day. The only Calypsonian to win the National Calypso Monarch Crown four times in a row, Kelvin Pope's body of work includes "Black is Beautiful", "Teach the Children", "Brotherhood of Man", "Mathematical Formula", "Treat Your Woman", "Land Of Love" and "Pan In Yuh Ruckungkertungkung". His focus has not been limited to local issues as he has demonstrated the importance of a global awareness in his interest in the liberation struggles in Africa. With such songs as "How Many More Must Die" and "Apartheid" he was a vocal critic of apartheid in South Africa. Continue to: 'The Mighty Duke Speaks'
Black is Beautiful: Honouring The Mighty Duke
July 31, 2007
The Emancipation Support Committee presented a tribute concert in honour of the Calypsonian 'Duke' at the Lidj Yasu Omawale Emancipation Village at Jean Pierre Complex on Saturday 28th July, 2007. The concert titled "Black is Beautiful" took its name from the classic song by the 'Mighty Duke'. Kelvin 'Mighty Duke' Pope is the only Calypsonian in the history of Trinidad and Tobago Calypso to ever win the National Calypso Monarch title four consecutive times, doing so from 1968 to 1971. The concert titled "Black is Beautiful" took its name from the classic song by the 'Mighty Duke'. Kelvin 'Mighty Duke' Pope is the only Calypsonian in the history of Trinidad and Tobago Calypso to ever win the National Calypso Monarch title four consecutive times, doing so from 1968 to 1971.
Continue to: 'Black is Beautiful: Honouring The Mighty Duke'
Kelvin ' Mighty Duke' Pope in pictures:
www.trinisoca.com/gallery2/main.php?g2_itemId=78655
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