The University of the West Indies (UWI) announced last Monday that veteran calypsonian/soca artists Lord Robert Nelson of Trinidad and Tobago and Alston BECKET Cyrus of St. Vincent and the Grenadines will be among 16 to receive UWI honorary degrees, both in person graduation ceremonies return to the distinguished university.
The UWI said in a statement that Lord Nelson and BECKET will both receive Honorary Doctorates of Letters (DLitt).
Lord Nelson will be honored for his contribution to culture and calypso, while BECKET will be honored for his work as a soca artist/composer, UWI said.
“The University of the West Indies (UWI) will welcome 16 distinguished global citizens to its graduating class this year,” the statement said. “In keeping with the annual tradition across all five campuses, the University Council has approved the awarding of 16 in the 2022 UWI Graduation Ceremonies.
“Honorary graduates, recognized for their contributions to several fields including sports, culture, law, business and science, will join the graduating class of 2022 in person this year as most campuses return to commencement ceremonies forehead. she added. “However, the UWI Open Campus will still host a virtual graduation ceremony.”
The UWI said its 2022 graduation ceremonies will take place between October 8 and November 5.
He said this year’s honorary graduates join the ranks of a prestigious list of fewer than 500 people who have been honored since 1965.
UWI said soca music legend Robert Nelson, better known as “Lord Nelson” and “Nello”, is considered “one of the most beloved and sought-after calypsonians and a pioneer of soca”.
Born on the tranquil island of Tobago, he migrated to the US in 1952 seeking a better life, the UWI said.
Lord Nelson was said to have accidentally discovered his gift for performing and took his fledgling talent to the clubs and dance halls of New York City, singing the songs of popular calypsonians of the time such as Kitchener, Sparrow and Lord Melody.
Positioning itself strategically, UWI said Lord Nelson connected with calypso singers from across the Caribbean such as the Iron Duke, Attila the Hun and Mighty Dukem who encouraged him to write his own songs.
“Nello quickly bounced back, providing a space and the necessary business contacts for contemporaries,” UWI said. His introductions were critical to the success of artists such as Sparrow, Melody and Duke.
“Nine-year-old soca artist Machel Montano also found a place to perform at his show in Paris, France,” she added.
He said Lord Nelson has performed throughout the US, Europe, South America and the Caribbean.
“His music has always been categorized as revolutionary, as he pushed the boundaries of calypso by incorporating the roots and rhythms of African drums, R&B, American jazz, Latin and various Caribbean styles,” UWI said.
“As one of the renowned architects of soca music, Lord Nelson is responsible for the term ‘soca’,” UWI said. “It evolved from the term Soul Calypso.”
He said some of his hit songs “Disco Daddy”, “La La” and “King Liar” became international Caribbean hits.
UWI said Lord Nelson’s classic Soca hit “Meh Lover” dominated the Trinidad and Tobago carnival for two years in 1982 and 1983, also pleasing the Caribbean and international markets.
“A true cultural ambassador for Trinidad and Tobago, Lord Nelson overcame the barriers of acceptance in Trinidad and Tobago and received several notable accolades, including the first Johnnie Walker Black Pioneer Award from the Author’s Music Organization of Trinidad and Tobago (COTT) in 2007, the Tobago Heritage Festival – Special Appreciation Award and the National Humming Bird Gold Medal in 2017,” UWI said.
It described BECKET as “an outstanding Caribbean soca/ragga-soca/calypso artist and composer”.
“He has fostered an illustrious 47-year career spanning 28 albums; multiple award-winning singles; a film soundtrack – ‘Disco Calypso’, in the film The Deep; five compositions featured on four American television programs, including ‘Full House’ and ‘The Tonight Show With Jay Leno’, and eight Road March titles, all to his credit,” UWI said.
It says BECKET first came to the limelight in 1975, when he was crowned Monarch of St. Vincent and the Calypso of the Grenadines with the two songs “Carnival History” and “Mass at Victoria.”
In his long career, UWI said BECKET has performed on stages across North America, Britain, Colombia, Spain and the Caribbean.
He is also one of the few Calypsonians to be signed by a major record label, Casablanca Records in 1977, along with artists such as Donna Summer and KISS, UWI said.
He said BECKET’s international hits include “Coming High” (1977) – on which he worked with Dr. Frankie McIntosh, acclaimed calypso/reggae arranger – and “Teaser” (1990), which was released on BECKET’s own label Cocoa Records and subsequently recorded. in over 10 languages.
In Germany, the UWI said the “Teaser” was released by record company Polydor, one of the biggest in the world.
In 1994, “Ella me Vacilla/Esa Chica,” the Spanish version of “Teaser,” was named Salsa/Tropical Song of the Year by Billboard/Univision, UWI said.
“While he is known for fun songs like ‘Small Pin’, ‘Gal Ah Rush Me’ and ‘Doh Eat And Lie Down’, his music has gone beyond party music,” UWI said. “He made regional and international social commentary on a wide range of topics, including politics, cricket, black pride and human rights, with songs such as ‘I’m African’; ‘Grenada will rise again’; ‘Laramania’; ‘President Obama’; and his 1984 single, ‘Love is the Answer,’ which was reworked in 2011 to commemorate 9/11,” UWI said.
In commemoration of the Caribbean hosting the 2007 Cricket World Cup, said BECKET released ‘Cricket Is We Ting’, an album containing ten original songs all about cricket.
In 2000, UWI said Alston BECKET Cyrus became the first Caribbean artist to perform at the US Open tennis tournament and was listed as one of the 17 Outstanding Caribbean Personalities of the 20th Century.
In 2001, UWI said BECKET was named a Goodwill Ambassador for St. Vincent and the Grenadines and, in 2010, became the first soca/calypso artist to perform at the Montreal International Reggae Festival in Montreal, Quebec, Canada.
Other recipients of UWI’s honorary degrees will be: Sir Richard Benjamin Richardson of Antigua and Barbuda for his contribution to sport – Doctor of Laws (LLD); Dr. Cleopatra Doumbia-Henry, PhD, LLM of Dominica for her work in International Labor and Maritime Law – Doctor of Laws (LLD); Sir Hugh Anthony Rawlins of St. Kitts and Nevis for contributions to the judicial arena – Doctor of Laws (LLD); Joy St. John of Barbados for her work in medicine and public health leadership – Doctor of Science (DSc); Ambassador Gabriel Abed of Barbados/United Arab Emirates for Entrepreneurship and Pioneering Digital Currency – Doctor of Laws (LLD); and E. Neville Isdell of Ireland for contributions to business and philanthropy – Doctor of Laws (LLD).
The others are: Dr. Shakuntala Haraksingh Thilsted of Trinidad and Tobago for contributions to agricultural science and nutrition – Doctor of Science (DSc); Ingrid LA Lashley of Trinidad and Tobago for her work in banking/corporate finance – Doctor of Laws (LLD); Rosalind Gabriel from Trinidad and Tobago for her work as a group leader/entertainer – Doctor of Letters (DLitt); Dr. Wayne AI Frederick of Trinidad and Tobago for contributions to surgical science – Doctor of Science (DSc); Professor Orlando Patterson of Jamaica for his work as a historical and cultural sociologist – Doctor of Letters (DLitt); Senator Dr. Rosemary Moodie from Jamaica/Canada for pediatric medicine and philanthropy – Doctor of Science (DSc); Adam Stewart from Jamaica for his work as an entrepreneur/philanthropist – LLD; and Diane Jaffee from the USA for her work in finance – LLD.
