Google Lord Nelson and what immediately comes up is information on British vice admiral Horatio Nelson. Throwing so wide a digital net would do that. Specify the search and type in Lord Nelson Trinidad and random bits of information about the life of the great calypsonian comes up.
The vast bodies of information that one easily finds on Sparrow, Kitchener and any other calypsonian is not as readily available for the man who created distinctive hits like Stella, Disco Daddy, Meh Lover, The Scroll, King Liar and many others.
The Friends of Lord Nelson, a non-governmental organisation, is on a mission to correct this and to honour one of Trinidad and Tobago’s oldest, living entertainers. Righting this wrong will begin with A Musical Evening with Lord Nelson. The concert is being held under the patronage of the Prime Minister on July 30 at Queen’s Hall, St Ann’s.
Robert “Lord Nelson” Alphonso Nelson was born in Plymouth, Tobago in 1931.
Chair of the NGO John Arnold said it was formed in 2019 and is working to preserve the legendary calypsonian’s legacy.
“In forming that, our basic mandate was to now look at how we celebrate the life of Lord Nelson while he is alive,” Arnold said.
He said the concert was all planned last year but was delayed by the covid19 restrictions.
Preparation for the event began six months ago and Lord Nelson will perform at the concert along with guest performers.
“It is a tribute but it is also a tribute in him being able to perform. The whole second half is him. Guest artistes will do songs from his repertoire and do their interpretation of that,” Arnold said.
Some of the supporting artistes are Oscar B, Ronnie McIntosh and the Signal Hill Alumni Choir.
Part of the proceeds from the concert will be offered to Lord Nelson, Arnold said.
“I think too often we wait until people die to appreciate them. For me, my mother always said to me, ‘Tell me while I am alive.’”
At 91, he is also the oldest calypsonian that is performing, Arnold said. In 2019, he was presented with a Lifetime Achievement Award by Randy Glasgow Productions in collaboration with Brothers with Vision (BWV) Entertainment.
In a then Newsday article he said, "I, Robert Alphonso Nelson, born in Plymouth, Tobago… in the past they dubbed me a foreigner, said I wasn’t born here and all the competitions and awards here are for nationals.
“Arrow, Sparrow, Swallow, Church – all those people could have taken part and win now they’ve changed it over… it hurts me but in Tobago and more so in Trinidad and Tobago, stranger better that your own. But I’m back here and I’m raising hell from where it was,” he said.
[caption id="attachment_966616" align="alignnone" width="829"] Trinidad and Tobago's oldest performing calypsonian Robert “Lord Nelson” Alphonso Nelson has created hits like Stella, Disco Daddy, Meh Lover, The Scroll, King Liar and many others.-[/caption]
Arnold said, “We are really talking about somebody who has been blessed by God in a very special way and still has something in him to give."
To Arnol
