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International
Calypso
Caribbean & Latin America:  The Eastern Caribbean Jamaica The Bahamas The Virgin Islands Bermuda Latin America |
Jamaica
In the 1950s, many mento bands were based at Jamaica's luxurious tourist
hotels. These bands capitalized on the "calypso craze" among
Americans and other foreigners during this period. Bands often released
souvenir records of mento songs and calypsos that were sold directly to
tourists at the hotels. A few artists achieved wider stardom. For example,
the Silver Seas Calypso Band, based at the Silver Seas Hotel in Ocho Rios,
toured New York in 1955 and appeared on The Steve Allen Show. During
the 1950s, Lord Flea and his Calypsonians left their hotel gig in Jamaica
for the nightclubs of Miami. The band later toured the U.S. and appeared
in Hollywood movies.
