The Duke of Iron

The story so far.

Written and edited by Smokiller

The Duke of Iron was the stage name of Cecil Anderson, a calypsonian and recording artist active from the 1930s to the 1960s. Born on 22 November 1906 in Port of Spain, he moved to New York with his family in 1923. In the 1930s he sang with the Caribbean big band Felix & His Krazy Kats, and in the 1940s he headlined the New York club circuit, including a ten-month run at the Village Vanguard. He took part in the 1946 Calypso at Midnight concerts that Alan Lomax produced at Town Hall, and in 1948 he appeared in the short film Wild Indian billed as The Duke of Iron and Band. He recorded for labels including Decca, Monogram and RCA Victor; his Marry a Woman Uglier Than You inspired Jimmy Soul's 1961 hit If You Wanna Be Happy. He played Carnegie Hall and the Apollo, appeared in the 1957 film Calypso Joe, and died in Queens on 17 November 1968. Sonny Rollins wrote a piece in his memory.