'Lord Canary' wants to wear Calypso Monarch's crown again
By Iana Seales
Stabroek News
January 23, 2004
He is the man who entertained thousands of Guyanese with a number of unforgettable calypsoes over some 51 years, yet very little was heard of him after 1999.
"Lord Canary" as he is popularly known is without question one of the calypso greats to have graced the local scene. This year he is back with hopes of claiming the Calypso Monarch title, a feat he had accomplished in 1998.
Many can recall the immensely popular "Down on the bottom floor", a piece Canary did in the late 50s narrating the sensational experience of being on a crammed dance hall in the city. The calypsonian won acclaim in Guyana and the wider Caribbean for the piece which placed him among the accomplished practitioners of the art form of social commentary.
Relaxed and looking fired-up, a jovial Canary whose real name is Malcolm Corrica aged 66 told Stabroek News his music has been alive during the years he was absent from the scene.
"Canary sleeps with music, wakes with music and lives with music. This bird did fly but not far away, now that he is back, let us see who will come out to play," he declared with a smile.
Pre-contest audition? Winfield James, one of the Mashramani calypso and road march competitors treating the patrons of the Cool Square on Tuesday to a few verses of one of his favourite songs. (Lawrence Fanfair photo)
Once a politician and Minister of Culture in the PNC administration, Canary belted out several hits in the 60s and shared the stage with gifted calypsonians such as "The Mighty Sparrow", "Lord Melody" and "Small Island Pride" out of Trinidad & Tobago. During his early days on the local scene he sang with the likes of "Lord Coffee", "King Cobra", "King Fighter" and the "Mighty Intruder", among others.
Reminiscing on his career Canary said "Down on the bottom floor" was the song that introduced him to the public.
Then he went on to sing "Trouble in the country". According to him this piece was intended for rural men who readily criticised men from the city who succeeded in wooing their country women.
"De people will talk" followed when he launched the song at a charity event staged at the Metropole Cinema. The piece which looked at everyday rumours was an instant hit and highlighted Canary's talent as a serious calypsonian.
Success later turned bittersweet for the calypsonian when "King Fighter" recorded the piece in Trinidad & Tobago with the explanation that he had composed the song.
Canary said that he was confident and then despondent after he heard the song playing on the radio. "I felt assured that my song won acclaim in Trinidad but something within depressed me because I never got to sing that piece internationally," he lamented.
He pointed out that Sparrow later disclosed that he [Canary] was the real composer. According to him Sparrow had seen the lyrics before he sang the song.
In 1998 Canary won the monarchy with "Advice to parents", - his last national performance. But this year he is back and hoping to grab the title with, "A woman is a woman", which he said is in celebration of women and looks at their contributions.
He stressed that this year his lyrics are not political and make no mention of recent crimes. According to him crime is the theme being played upon this year by many calypsonians so he chose not to comment on the issue.