In the 1950's, music from the Caribbean was gaining popularity as it continued a process of cross-pollination with other musical styles while its influence spread.
The essence of Jamaican Mento music began to blur while running the risk of disappearing under the umbrella of the Trinidadian Calypso craze, but one of its prime ambassadors in the U.S. was Norman Thomas, a.k.a. Lord Flea.
Lord Flea gained increasing popularity performing with his band at nightclubs in his native Kingston, Jamaica in the early '50's, and the success continued after a move to Miami, Florida.
He was at his peak by 1957, appearing on national TV programs and in films, and releasing this album. (Likely Capitol viewed Lord Flea as their answer to RCA's Harry Belafonte.)
Band lineup:
Lord Flea - leader, singer and guitarist
Porkchops - banjo
Count Spoon - drums and spoons
Prince Charles and Lord Largie - timbali and tumba percussion
Fish Ray - washtub base
Tragically, Lord Flea was diagnosed with Hodgkin's Disease a couple of years later.
He died far too young in 1959, at the age of 25.
(Though some reports vary, his age has been confirmed by his daughter. See comments)
- You can read about Mento music and Lord Flea in very detailed pages at Mento Music.Com
From the 'Swingin' Calypsos' LP
(Capitol Records, 1957),
Listen to Lord Flea and his Calypsonians:
Shake Shake Sonora
Shi-Du-Bi-Du-Bab
Bachelor's Life
I Can't Cross Over
Out De Fire
Mister Give Me De Rent
Monkey
Love
Calypso Be Bop
Pretty Woman
Magic Composer
Naughty Little Flea
(click for audio)
- - OR download all 12 tracks in one 26.0 Mb zipfile.
In the 1950's, music from the Caribbean was gaining popularity as it continued a process of cross-pollination with other musical styles while its influence spread.
