Calypso Pop
tagStarted 1956Peak 1956-1962Last big hit 1988
Trinidadian calypso, witty storytelling sung over a loping two-beat with acoustic guitar, light percussion and call-and-response, polished for mid-century American pop. Warm baritone leads, playful or topical lyrics, and a swaying, singalong lilt. Sunny and theatrical, it brought Caribbean rhythm and double-entendre wordplay to mainstream living rooms.
History
Harry Belafonte's 1956 album 'Calypso' became the first million-selling LP and ignited a nationwide calypso craze, with 'Day-O' its signature. Trinidad's Mighty Sparrow and Lord Kitchener sustained the tradition at home, while Buster Poindexter's 1987 'Hot Hot Hot' gave the style a final pop revival decades later.
Defining artists
Essential listening
Sources
- History.com: The Calypso Craze
- Wikipedia: Calypso (album)
- Library of Congress: National Recording Registry