Lord Nelson

The story so far.

Written and edited by Smokiller

Lord Nelson, born Robert Nelson, grew up in Plymouth, Tobago, and is counted among the early stars of soca. After high school he moved to Brooklyn, was drafted into the US forces and first sang for troops in Korea, modelling himself on the Mighty Sparrow, Lord Melody and Lord Kitchener. Back in New York he worked with steel bands and, under the guidance of the Mighty Duke, began writing his own songs, earning the name Calypso King of New York in the 1960s. Hits such as La La Jam Back and King Liar brought a funk edge to his calypso. In 1978 he recorded Foreigner about feeling shut out of calypso circles as a Tobagonian, and in 1989 he won the Uncrowned King title at Trinidad Carnival. He signed with Shanachie in 1990 and has played Madison Square Garden and Carnegie Hall. He gave a young Machel Montano an opening slot at a show in Paris.