Calypso in America Macbeth and Lancelot Part 1 | Part 2 | Part 3   Following World War II, a wider range of singers performed and recorded calypsos in the U.S. While major Trinidadian calypsonians continued to record, companies also began to present Trinidadian singers with little or no experience in the calypso tents (halls) of Trinidad. The best known of these newcomers were Sir Lancelot, the Duke of Iron and Macbeth the Great, all of whom packaged calypso in a form that was more intelligible and appealing to American audiences.

International Calypso The United States: Calypso in America The Calypso Craze Publishing Calypso Calypso Shows Calypso in the Movies   Sir Lancelot

Both established calypsonians and the new singers sang fewer calypsos about Trinidadian events. Instead, they focused on songs about world affairs or with universal themes, particularly relations between the sexes. They also sang about the immigration experience, with commentary on such topics as New York subways, American racism and nostalgia for their homes in the Caribbean.

MacBeth the Great

Calypso and folk music

Josephine Premice

Duke of Iron

Audio example:

Invader's "New York Subway"   "New York Subway." Written by Rupert Grant (Lord Invader). Sung by Lord Invader. Accompanied by Felix and His Internationals. Originally recorded for Disc Records, New York, ca. 1946. From: Lord Invader, Calypso in New York. Smithsonian Folkways SFW CD 40454. Courtesy of Smithsonian Folkways Recordings. ©2000. Used by permission. www.folkways.si.edu Listen: RealAudio (379 KB) | Windows Media Player (583 KB) | Read lyrics

Calypso compilation	Calypso compilation	Lord Burgess
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