Calypsonian M’ba remembers the Grandmaster
Michelle Loubon
I remember Kitch touching me, and I did not want that touch to leave me. He is one of the greatest calypsonians ever.” So said Arima (Gen D’Arime) calypsonian (M’ba) Gary Thomasos as the Eastern Borough got ready to celebrate the late Lord Kitchener (Aldwyn Roberts) 100th birthday anniversary on Easter Monday (April 18).
As a child growing up in Arima, M’ba’s father the late Boysie Dass took him to the Grand Stand to see Kitchener’s performances. He said his father told him that Kitchener was born on St Joseph Street, and Kitch’s godmother lived on Calcutta Street- a few streets from where the Thomasos clan (late mother Mary Thomasos/a cousin of the late parang queen Daisy Voisin) lived on Columbus Street.
In an interview with the Express, he said: “My father was a Kitch fan. We adored D’ Grandmaster. When the tents came to the Grand Stand (opposite Windsor cinema/where KFC stands), he would be excited. My dad and I would leave and go backstage to greet the greats like Singing Francine, Brigo and Mighty Composer. It was a pleasure to see him perform as a boy. I always admired Kitch. They would call him “Bean” after school. Arimians were die-hard Kitchener fans. We wanted him to win all the Road March titles. Sparrow was a big name, too. After all, he had Jean and Dinah and Mae Mae. But being from Arima, we were sold to Lord Kitchener. He has so many gems like Nora and Rainorama. I can’t say which is my favourite pick.”
In 2001, M’ba was a semi-finalist in the national Calypso Monarch competition at Skinner Park, San Fernando, with Just For You Kitch. He did not make it to the finals. Then in 2014, he dedicated ‘The Grandmaster Say’ to him.
It was arranged by St James iconic arranger Dr Pelham Goddard.
He said: “I never worked with him during his lifetime. I sang at Revue Tent under Sugar Aloes after. He is a part of me and I am a part of him. He stirred something in me as a child. I would perform the songs at the clashes in the Queen’s Park Savannah (QPS). We had a clash between Spektakula and Revue. He told me to go home and rest my voice because you does get hoarse fast.”
Honours for M’ba, Ian Bishop and Kitch
The year 1994 has a special place in M’ba’s heart. The late Arima mayor Rose Janniere honoured him, cricketer Ian Bishop and Kitch. He said: “Imagine M’ba, Ian Bishop and Kitch in the mayor’s box. We reach. It was a special feeling. I felt proud to be Gen D’Arime.”
But try as M’ba could, he could not sway Kitch to make an appearance with him on Dimanche Gras night in 1995- ‘Doh Jail Dem’ and ‘What Town Say’. He placed sixth.
He said: “I was preparing for the finals. I wanted Kitch to appear the night of Dimanche Gras and present me with a hat during the last verse in What Town Say. Kitch stammered: “ You want Stalin and dem to kill me, boy.” I was singing with the late Shadow (Winston Bailey) tent. But all’s well that ends well.”
Rename the Queen’s Park Savannah, Arima Velodrome in his honour
Sharing his sentiments on the Arima tribute, M’ba said: “ It’s great. Kitch deserves it. Everything that he got during his lifetime and when he passed on. Nobody should ever deny him his accolades. He deserved it immensely. He is an icon and a legend. A national treasure.”
M’ba added: “Kitchener should have a statue in Arima like in Port of Spain. They have a bust in Arima. He deserves more. They should rename the Savannah or the Arima Velodrome in his honour. I support everything they are doing for him 150 per cent.”
M’ba also expressed confidence the Arima artistic community would support every endeavour to honour Kitchener.
He said: “We have men like from the East who would support everything for him. We have men like Bunji Garlin. Bunji would be chanting opposite Windsor cinema. He got the keys to the city. We have calypsonian Cardinal. He is like my brother. Skatie, brothers Andy (bassist), and Melon Garcia (former councillor in Arima Borough Corporation), Stephen Calbio (vintage styled calypsonian) and Lima Calbio (El Quemado singer), Stinger, Walter “Coro” Taylor. I know Cardinal sang Toco Band at Kaiso Karavan during A Taste of Carnival. He always like to incorporate a Kitch song in his repertoire.”
The year 1994 has a special place in M’ba’s heart. The late Arima mayor Rose Janniere honoured him, cricketer Ian Bishop and Kitch. He said: “Imagine M’ba, Ian Bishop and Kitch in the mayor’s box. We reach. It was a special feeling. I felt proud to be Gen D’Arime.”
But try as M’ba could, he could not sway Kitch to make an appearance with him on Dimanche Gras night in 1995- ‘Doh Jail Dem’ and ‘What Town Say’. He placed sixth.
He said: “I was preparing for the finals. I wanted Kitch to appear the night of Dimanche Gras and present me with a hat during the last verse in What Town Say. Kitch stammered: “ You want Stalin and dem to kill me, boy.” I was singing with the late Shadow (Winston Bailey) tent. But all’s well that ends well.”
Rename the Queen’s Park Savannah, Arima Velodrome in his honour
Sharing his sentiments on the Arima tribute, M’ba said: “ It’s great. Kitch deserves it. Everything that he got during his lifetime and when he passed on. Nobody should ever deny him his accolades. He deserved it immensely. He is an icon and a legend. A national treasure.”
M’ba added: “Kitchener should have a statue in Arima like in Port of Spain. They have a bust in Arima. He deserves more. They should rename the Savannah or the Arima Velodrome in his honour. I support everything they are doing for him 150 per cent.”
M’ba also expressed confidence the Arima artistic community would support every endeavour to honour Kitchener.
He said: “We have men like from the East who would support everything for him. We have men like Bunji Garlin. Bunji would be chanting opposite Windsor cinema. He got the keys to the city. We have calypsonian Cardinal. He is like my brother. Skatie, brothers Andy (bassist), and Melon Garcia (former councillor in Arima Borough Corporation), Stephen Calbio (vintage styled calypsonian) and Lima Calbio (El Quemado singer), Stinger, Walter “Coro” Taylor. I know Cardinal sang Toco Band at Kaiso Karavan during A Taste of Carnival. He always like to incorporate a Kitch song in his repertoire.”
