James Toussaint
“I love Kitch and our relationship was always good”. So declared thee supreme serenader, the cream de la cream as he buried the perceived hatchet on the rivalry talk in the public domain as to the nature of the relationship between The Mighty Sparrow and The Lord Kitchener.
I had an interview with the Mighty Sparrow, as I went on my mission to find anecdotal stories from the artistes’ perspective and experience with Lord Kitchener on this, his centennial year of celebration. I didn’t find a more ardent fan than The Mighty Sparrow. The Supreme serenader told of the days he ran straight home from school to turn on the radio to listen to the songs of The Lord Kitchener. There weren’t any Calypso tents in those days said the Mighty Sparrow and the radio was the only media then for getting music. Sparrow first heard of the Lord Kitchener by listening to the Radio.
Sparrow attended Mucurapo Boys RC School in St. James. When the family moved and he was transferred to Newtown Boys’ RC from 3rd standard. He was placed in Ms James class and took a liking to singing with the school and church choir. He was inspired by the music of the likes of Lord Kitchener, Lord Invader, Radio, Attila D Hun, Spoiler, and Small Island Pride to name a few.
Birdie expressed nothing but admiration for Kitch’s classy style and his music. Sparrow first met Kitch when a group of Calypsonians visited England on a cultural trip. After a performance in London, Sparrow expressed his desire to visit Kitch, who then lived in Manchester where he owned and ran a night club.
Sparrow told the others in the touring group that he could not leave England without visiting Kitch. He spoke in glowing terms of Kitch during that fateful trip to Manchester. Here is an excerpt of that conversation:
A hearty and exuberant laugh ensued between these gentlemen that started a friendship which continued unabated up until his passing on the 11th February 2000.
“We traveled in different directions in all these years. I would have liked him to sing in my tent but that wasn’t to be. If there was any rivalry it was good rivalry. We all tried to out do each other”.
“The battle of the Brigades, it was just business, good rivalry between The Young and the Old Brigade. Sparrow ran the Young Brigade and Kitch ran the Old Brigade. There was excitement galore for carnival.”
Kitchener sang a song called “ Sparrow Why yuh tief meh mango.” just example of the witty “fatigue” in song between these two icons.
After the visit in Manchester, Sparrow there and then, encouraged the Lord Kitchener to return home to Trinidad and Tobago. “The people love you Kitch and they miss you and want to see you”, said Sparrow. It wasn’t long after that fateful meeting the Lord Kitchener returned to his beloved Trinidad & Tobago to a resounding and warm reception at the Piarco International Airport. A reception befitting of the “King” he is.
What was to follow was a huge surprise even to the very humble Aldwin Roberts AKA Lord Kitchener. The mob like fans followed him everywhere he went, to shower him with displays of love and affection not to mention fanaticism.
The Grandmaster continued to enjoy this huge wave of popularity for many years to follow. The fans showed Kitch immense love and appreciation for his work right here in the land of his birth Trinidad and Tobago.The years to follow saw the Grandmaster rise to the very apex of the Calypso world. Kitch won (10) ten road march crowns.
“Kitch built his home near to me” as if to say this is the ultimate evidence that disproves beyond any shadow of a doubt. Kitch and Sparrow were very dear friends, a friendship that spanned decades seeing both of them dominating the Calypso landscape. Both men were equally known as Road March King and Calypso Monarch Kings.
“Yuh eh see the man build he house right by me…no he never macco me…well I certainly didn’t macco him. Sparrow then laughed his signature deep gutted but hearty Sparrow type of laughter.
