Kaiso No 30 December 19, 1999
The death of another legend in calypso is the reason for this latest newsletter. King Fighter died a week ago in Grenada where he had lived for many years.
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. In the 1959 he was in OYB tent singing
Advice to West Indians. <blockquote>Advice to West IndiansWest Indians please take it easy
And stop deserting your own country
You leaving you house full of family
And go out to some in the cold country
When we have everything in the Caribbean
That we can better our position </blockquote>
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