Norman Thomas (Lord Flea)
Sometimes called the "Calypso King of Jamaica," Lord Flea was this island's first international music star. He primarily performed mento, a major form of popular music in Jamaica that was similar to calypso. During the 1950s, he was active in the nightclub scene and, while still a teenager, attracted much attention with his composition "The Naughty Little Flea." In 1954 Lord Flea and his band were such a sensation at the Glass Bucket nightclub in Kingston that they were recruited to travel to Miami, where they appeared in such venues as the Vagabond, Harry's American Bar at the Eden Roc Hotel, Club Calypso and Grey's Inn. During the American "calypso craze" of 1956-57, the band traveled to New York, Las Vegas and Hollywood. In 1957 Flea released an album, Swingin' Calypsos, on Capitol and appeared in two Hollywood calypso movies: Bop Girl Goes Calypso and Calypso Joe. He also performed on the nationally televised Perry Como Show. Flea died tragically in Miami in 1959 at age 25.
In later years, Harry Belafonte recorded several of Flea's songs. His
composition "The Naughty Little Flea" was recorded by Miriam
Makeba, Toots and the Maytals, Gary U.S. Bonds and the Swedish artist
Owe Thörnquist.
