If it wasn't for this gentleman, I doubt Calypso would have the genre Extempo- he is the Godfather of Extempo. According to the Mighty Sparrow...."he could think fast". Alric Farrell (1917-2002) known in the Calypso sphere as Lord Pretender (Preddie to the people) claimed he got his moniker from pitching marbles "ah am a pretender to your throne"!! This man started his career during the Great Depression- 1929. The story goes that while singing in a tent, his grandmother dragged him out saying "Yuh bringing shame on the family"!! Little did she know far he would go in the trade. Pretender along with Lord Melody sang for Princess Margaret when she visited Trinidad. He won the Calypso King competition in 1957 placing 3rd with "Que Sera Sera"- What will be, will be. Pretender is the recipient of the Public Service Medal of Merit (1972) & the Hummingbird Gold Medal for Calypso in 1994. Here's an interesting note about Pretender- he continued to live in his house rent-free for the rest of his life- God bless you, sir!! Didn't know Lion's Netty Netty was written by Preddie!!
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the best of the bests!
Great documentary of one of the greatest masters of calypso ! - thanks for the memories from a Trini living in Canada.❤
He is a legend ❤
If it wasn't for this gentleman, I doubt Calypso would have the genre Extempo- he is the Godfather of Extempo. According to the Mighty Sparrow...."he could think fast". Alric Farrell (1917-2002) known in the Calypso sphere as Lord Pretender (Preddie to the people) claimed he got his moniker from pitching marbles "ah am a pretender to your throne"!! This man started his career during the Great Depression- 1929. The story goes that while singing in a tent, his grandmother dragged him out saying "Yuh bringing shame on the family"!! Little did she know far he would go in the trade. Pretender along with Lord Melody sang for Princess Margaret when she visited Trinidad. He won the Calypso King competition in 1957 placing 3rd with "Que Sera Sera"- What will be, will be. Pretender is the recipient of the Public Service Medal of Merit (1972) & the Hummingbird Gold Medal for Calypso in 1994. Here's an interesting note about Pretender- he continued to live in his house rent-free for the rest of his life- God bless you, sir!! Didn't know Lion's Netty Netty was written by Preddie!!
He wasn’t one of the best he was the best
One of the best among a few.
Mastery of the English vocabulary.
His humility was tangible and he seemed to have had an innocence about him
This man paved the way rest up pretender