Movie advertisement	Calypso in Trinidad: Carnival and Musical Traditions Calypso Tents and Calypsonians The Composition of Calypso Early Recordings of Calypso Calypso in the 1940s and 1950s
Calypso in the 1940s and 1950s Part 1 | Part 2

World War II brought dramatic changes to Trinidad and the calypso scene. In 1941 the United States established several military bases in the island, through which thousands of servicemen passed in the course of the war. A vibrant entertainment scene developed to occupy the soldiers and sailors in their leisure time.

Army personnel

Recreation on the base

Calypsonians at Ft. Read

Invaders Steelband

Sailor masquerade

While servicemen gravitated to calypso shows, a new type of music making was evolving in the yards and streets of Trinidad: the steelband. These youthful ensembles, with instruments made from metal containers, would become quite popular after the war.

Next: Calypso in the 1940s and 1950s, part 2

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