FDR in Trinidad

"FDR in Trinidad" (also known as "Roosevelt in Trinidad") is a calypso song written by Fritz McLean[1] and popularized by Atilla the Hun (Raymond Quevedo) to commemorate U.S. President Franklin Delano Roosevelt's 1936 trip to Trinidad.[2] As part of Attila and his band's repertoire in New York City during the 1930s and 1940s, it brought increased popularity to the genre.[3] Roosevelt had become a calypso fan in 1934 following the band's performances in New York City during 1934.[4]

The song was covered by Ry Cooder in his 1971 album Into the Purple Valley, by Van Dyke Parks in his 1972 album Discover America,[5][6] and performed in local skits.[3]

References
  1. Jim Bessman (4 April 1998). Billboard. Nielsen Business Media, Inc. p. 27–. ISSN 0006-2510.
  2. "Calypso Boom". Time. 1938-08-29. Retrieved 2009-05-14.
  3. Ray Allen, Lois Wilcken (2001). Island Sounds in the Global City. University of Illinois Press. ISBN 978-0-252-07042-6.
  4. Robert Springer (2006). Nobody knows where the blues come from: lyrics and history. University Press of Mississippi. ISBN 978-1-57806-797-8.
  5. Pareles, Jon (1991-12-16). "Review/Pop; Parlor Songs for Today By a Gentle Practitioner". The New York Times. Retrieved 2009-05-14.
  6. Philip Hayward (1999). Widening the horizon. Indiana University Press. ISBN 978-1-86462-047-4.


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