David Rudder
David Rudder | |
|---|---|
| Birth name | David Michael Rudder |
| Born | 6 May 1953 |
| Origin | Belmont, Port of Spain, Trinidad and Tobago |
| Genres | Calypso, soca |
| Occupation(s) | Musician, singer, producer, song-writer |
| Instrument(s) | Vocals, guitar |
| Years active | 1977–present |
| Labels | Sire/Warner Bros. Records (1986–90) |
| Website | www.davidmichaelrudder.com |
David Michael Rudder (born 6 May 1953) is a Trinidadian calypsonian, known to be one of the most successful calypsonians of all time. He performed as lead singer for the brass band Charlie's Roots.[1] Nine years later, Rudder stepped outside the band, entering the calypso tent as a solo calypsonian in 1986, which was followed by an unprecedented rise to fame.[2]
"Almost overnight he became a national hero of the order of Marley in Jamaica, Fela in Nigeria and Springsteen in New Jersey," wrote Daisann McClane, American journalist and Worldbeat correspondent for Rolling Stone Magazine.[3]
His music quickly became the subject of music critics around the world: "From New York to London to Tokyo, where the Japanese have released a CD of Rudder's greatest hits complete with lyrics translated into Japanese, Rudder has been described as modern calypso's most innovative songwriter."[2]
Career
Born in Belmont, Port of Spain, Trinidad and Tobago, one of nine children, Rudder spent much of his early life with his grandmother, a devout Baptist.[4] He began singing with a calypso band at a young age, and in his teens sang backup vocals in a calypso tent run by Lord Kitchener,[4] while earning his living as an accountant with the Trinidad Bus Company.[5]
In 1977, he joined Charlie's Roots, a leading band in Trinidad and Tobago, which launched with help and sponsorship from New York-based record producer Rawlson Charles,[6] and Rudder spent many years as one of the band's vocalists.
In 1986, he came to prominence on Andy Narell's album The Hammer, which produced two big hits: "The Hammer" (a tribute to the late pannist Rudolph Charles) and "Bahia Girl". This was followed in 1987 with "Calypso Music", a brilliant encapsulation of the history of calypso. In 1988 Rudder released what is widely considered his best album to date, Haiti, which included the title track, a tribute to the glory and suffering of Haiti;[7] "Engine Room", which captured the energy of the steel band; and "Rally 'Round the West Indies",[8] which became the anthem of West Indies cricket.
In 1991, four tracks performed by Rudder were included in the soundtrack of the film Wild Orchid: "Dark Secret" (two versions), "Children Of Fire (Call Of Xango)", and "Just a Carnival", which includes Rudder in the final scene in the movie "performing" on the beach. In 2008, Rudder did a Soca collaboration with fellow Trinidadian Machel Montano, "Oil and Music" on Machel's 2007 album Flame On. In 2011 David Rudder performed a soca collaboration called "Glow" with Barbados' "Queen of Soca" Alison Hinds.[9]
Discography
| Year | Album | Peak positions | |||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| U.S. top 200 | UK | ||||
| 2001 | The Autobiography of the Now | - | - | ||
| 2000 | Zero | - | - | ||
| 1998 | International Chantuelle | - | - | ||
| 1998 | Beloved | - | - | ||
| 1996 | Wrapped in Plain Brown Paper | - | - | ||
| 1995 | Tales from a Strange Land | - | - | ||
| 1995 | Gilded Collection—Volume 1 | - | - | ||
| 1994 | Lyrics Man | - | - | ||
| 1993 | Here Comes the West Indies | - | - | ||
| 1990 | 1990 | - | - | ||
| 1987 | Haiti (with Charlie's Roots) | - | - | ||
References
- ^ "Charlie's Roots - Biography & History". AllMusic. Retrieved 14 June 2019.
- ^ a b "David Rudder Biography Achievements & Awards". www.davidmichaelrudder.com. Retrieved 14 June 2019.
- ^ Jacob, Debbie (1 January 1994). "David Rudder: The Breakthrough". Caribbean Beat Magazine. Retrieved 14 June 2019.
- ^ a b Craig Harris, "Artist Biography", AllMusic.
- ^ "EL (Ellie) - 2019 Pan Tunes - Steelband Panorama - David Rudder - Carnival 2019". When Steel Talks/PanOnTheNet. Retrieved 14 June 2019.
- ^ Cuffy, David (7 January 2016). "Roots to share". www.guardian.co.tt. Retrieved 14 June 2019.
- ^ "‘Haiti’ sung by David Rudder", When Steel Talks, 2008.
- ^ David Rudder - Rally Round The West Indies on YouTube
- ^ "Alison Hinds ft. David Rudder - Glow".
External links
- David Rudder's official website
- David Rudder's official MySpace Page
- Joy A. I. Mahabir, "Rhythm and Class Struggle: The Calypsoes of David Rudder", Jouvert 6 (3), 2002.
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