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Reading Time 6 mins
March 4, 2022
This slightly edited article was first published on January 30, 2012, celebrating Bomber’s 84th birthday anniversary.
INTRODUCTION:
This effort highlights the Grenadian Calypsonian’s role in developing the art form of calypso in Trinidad & Tobago and other parts of the world.
In the 1960s and 70s, Lord Blakie and others attacked the image of the Grenadian in Trinidad with stunning and demeaning lyrics such as:
“Move leh me geh me share, they beating Grenadians down in the square…
Ah fuss them Grenadians stupid, hear what happen to one who name Cupid
Ah job this man went to seek, the boss tell him $5 a week
He say boss, me go tell you flat, me nuh working for that
Awright $20 a month the boss say, that sounding better me work right away.”
WELL MR. BLAKIE, WHEREVER YOU ARE, PLEASE BE ADVISED THAT GRENADIANS ARE NOT STUPID. Some may say, “Well, it’s just a calypso.” But the matter is that calypso entertained and educated us and played a significant role in all social and political issues of the day. Perhaps that’s why Grenadians became shy and withdrawn, felt like second class, and in most cases concealed their identity in Trinidad.
BOMBER AND THE CALYPSO MOVEMENT.
Any significant movement by Calypsonians from Grenada was made dating back to the 1940s by an ambitious SIR GALBA (George McSween) and others to the Mecca of Calypso and Steelband.
Pioneers like SMALL ISLAND PRIDE (Theophilus Woods) of Grand Anse (famous for “Taxi Driver” and “Mastifay, Mastifay, meet me down by the Croisee”), THE MIGHTY ZEBRA (Charles Harris), THE MIGHTY SPARROW (Slinger Francisco), THE MIGHTY BOMBER (Clifton Ryan), LORD CARUSO (Road March King – 1961), BROTHER VALENTINO (Emerold Philip).”
Sparrow’s journey is well-documented, but few know or have ever heard about Sir Galba or Small Island Pride. The triumvirate awaited the new kid with open arms as Bomber arrived in Trinidad in June 1956, with no fanfare, of course, but a master plan.
CLIFTON RYAN, the focus of this story, was born in St. George’s, GDA, on June 30, 1928. He started singing calypso in 1940 at the tender age of 12 when he was discovered by Her Eminence, Pansy Rowley, President of the Pygmalion Glee Club, a prestigious cultural club in the city of St. George.
Ms. Rowley came across this “magga likkle fella” taking his turn to do a number for the sparse street audience. Ms. Rowley was so impressed by his performance that she approached him thus:
“What is your name?
Me? I is Clifton Miss.
It is the PYGMALION GLEE CLUB. Would you come?
The likkle fella stared down at his unshod feet as if to draw the courage to answer. Then, finally, the words came, “Yes, miss, ah go come and sing for your pig club.” (“Would Clifton keep his promise? I hope he does.” Ms. Rowley whispered to herself).
Clifton did honour his promise to sing before members of the P.G.C., and when he did, he brought the house down and was mobbed by many people from the upper bracket of the St. George’s society. Mr. Norris Hughes, a prominent merchant, walked up to Clifton and gave him “ah money.” Mr. Hughes will go on to become something of a patron to the youngster.
Eric Gairy would also join in some years later, indeed in the role of ‘griot’; the young Calypsonian was the first to lionise the young Gairy thus:
Ms. Rowley was so impressed she went on to organise a Calypso King Competition. Her little protege ran away with the title. Up to that point, King Ryan had not given thought to assume a sobriquet. But that would soon change.
On the day following the Pygmalion victory, the pint-sized kid was strutting along the Carenage on his way to the Empire cinema when an old east Indian man in a torn singlet called out to him. “Aye, ain’t you the young fella that bombed them boys in the calypso show last night?” “Yes, sah, ah is the fella”, said Ryan.
“Boy, you is a real Bomber in truth, You bomb them boys for so.” (Remember, that was during WW II.)
AND SO THE LEGEND WAS BORN.
Bomber dominated the calypso scene in GDA winning every contest until 1947. Bomber then gave way to the perennial runner-up, THE YOUNG MELODY (Wilfred Baptiste), whom he composed for.
SPARROW became Calypso King in T&T for the first time in 1956, with Jean & Dinah, which opened the Bomber’s eyes. After he migrated to T&T, Bomber achieved instant success, winning his first competition in 1957 – THE RADIO TRINIDAD TENTH ANNIVERSARY CALYPSO COMPETITION. In 1958, he made a bit hit for Harry Belafonte called GLORIA. In 1960, Sparrow welcomed him to the ORIGINAL YOUNG BRIGADE TENT and 1962, and he placed fourth in the INDEPENDENCE CALYPSO KING COMPETITION. (Sparrow was runner-up to LORD BRYNNER – also of GDA parentage).
In 1964, Bomber created history by dethroning the heavily favoured defending champion, the Mighty Sparrow, for the coveted NATIONAL CALYPSO KING CROWN.
Here again, the LORD BLAKIE raised his jealous objection in song, “They take the crown from one Grenadian and put it on the next one head”. The Lord Blakie was not fond of Grenadians.
BOMBER represented Trinidad at the Commonwealth Festival of Arts in England in 1965 and in the USA – Randall’s Island. He then staged events at the Original Young Brigade Tent for 15 years.
He was awarded a lot of land at Picton Hill for his efforts. After Dr. Eric Williams died, Bomber was so saddened, he withdrew from calypso competitions. During this period, his sight faded and it was rumored that he was blind. However, by the grace of God, and the advancement of modern medicine, cataracts were removed and his sight was restored. In 1990, with the encouragement of his family, he returned to the calypso stage at the Review Tent, singing a special song called “THE UNITED STATES OF THE WEST INDIES” and continued singing there until 2003. In recent years, Bomber’s calypso renditions remained at a very high standard and he was chosen to participate in the Monarch Finals at the age of 75 years, making him possibly the oldest Calypsonian to reach the Monarch Finals.
BOMBER notes the contrast between the early days in which calypsonians and pan players were looked down upon in some sectors of society, and now.
“The older BOMBER gets, the sweeter he sounds”, remarked a recent patron at the Hotel Normandy.
BOMBER espoused strong lyrics and positive messages, coming from an era when it was popular to sing songs like —–
“Every now and then cuff them down
or atrocious lyrics such as:
“If a man don’t bust somebody face
or (Road March):
“The road make to walk on carnival day
And so, this is the legacy of the LIKKLE BOY who grew up to be a BIG MAN who reminds us of the importance of developing one’s talent and sharing it with the world.
(Maybe there is an implicit message to the land of his birth.)
Caldwell Taylor was Grenada’s Ambassador to the United Nations (September 1980 to October 1983), and Deputy Minister for Foreign Affairs (1982 to October 1983). Mr. Taylor is the founder and editor of Big Drum Nation.
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Look out for Part II on April 4, 2022.