Rootsman Kelly

The story so far.

Written and edited by Smokiller

Kelly "Rootsman Kelly" Clyne is a calypsonian from St David, Grenada. At Dimanche Gras 2017 he scored 849 points to unseat defending monarch Scholar, and NOW Grenada reported that no Calypso King had come from St David before him. The 2017 National Queen, a fellow St David native, placed the crown on his head, and King Ajamu was on hand to congratulate him. After his win he told reporters that without the people, Rootsman Kelly is probably just Kelly. In 2018 he finished fifth as Scholar regained the title. The following March he was one of four Grenada calypso kings on the bill at Champs in Concert, alongside Ajamu, Scholar and Black Wizard, with Brother Valentino as the headline act. In 2025 he placed second in the Calypso Monarch, three points behind Scholar. Performances shared online include "Dy Nuttin" from the 2023 calypso finals, "Thank God" for Grenada's independence and "Judicial Imbalance".