30:
405:"Monkey" has unusual subject matter. Awaking one morning to find a monkey at his garden gate, Lord Flea sings of how the monkey proceeds to follow him about wherever he goes, even going so far as to start copying Flea's actions: "When I put on shoes — monkey wears shoes too.. I don't what to say, the monkey won't do!"
402:, you can bet." He went on to say that: "West Indians have the best sense of humor in the world. Even the most solemn song, like "Las Kean Fine" ("Lost and Can Not Be Found"), which tells of a boiler explosion on a sugar plantation that killed several of the workers, their natural wit and humor shine though."
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in Miami, traveled to
Jamaica in order to search out an 'authentic sound' for his Florida venue. Saxon offered a residency lasting from two to six months, with the proviso that those artists that wished to apply for the gig, must have previously recorded some music. Lord Flea & his Calypsonians
303:
in Miami in 1959. According to daughter Kathie Way-Giddarie: "Each evening during his hospital stay, he would play music for the doctors, nurses and the patients on the isolation ward." On 18 May 1959 (at the age of either 24 or 28), Lord Flea died. Thomas's subsequent funeral procession was, at
186:
magazine, Lord Flea explained: "In
Jamaica, we call our music 'mento' until very recently. Today, 'calypso' is beginning to be used for all kinds of West Indian music. This is because it's become so commercialized there. Some people like to think of West Indians as carefree natives who work and
202:
magazine, in an article entitled "U.S. Tourists Rush to the
Caribbean". The piece contained a photograph of Lord Flea performing at the Jamaican Room. Fellow bandmate Pork Chops can be seen in the picture alongside Flea, with the Calypsonians' bongo-player sat high upon a large barrel. That year
190:
Members of the
Calypsonians assumed colorful stage-names. Besides Lord Flea himself, the band adopted such memorable pseudonyms as Count Slick, Count Spoon, and Prince Charles. The Calypsonians' bassist was called Fish Ray — an early exponent of the
164:, Jamaica, and began his career in entertainment at local dancehalls such as the "Adastra Gardens" and "Success". In 1949, he earned himself a year-long engagement after he had performed in the talent competitions held at the Sugar Hill Club.
397:
outlook on life, stating that: "The islanders know how to get more out of life. They don't worry as much as
Americans do about unimportant things, I mean. You can say they just sing and dance their troubles away — and it beats
316:
In "Mister Give Me Ma Rent", the Lord tells of a problem landlady who is "..too rude – in my affairs she likes to intrude.." The song goes on to depict financial woes and poor accommodation common to many
Jamaicans of the time:
237:, which stated that: "Flea has a dynamic drive.." and that the single "could put many to shame." The review also added that Lord Flea & His Calypsonians produced "attention-grabbing sides can stir action at all levels."
450:
amongst others. Thomas' daughter recalled asking her father about the meaning behind "The
Naughty Little Flea": "His answer to me was that 'when he was gone that there would be another, then another and then another.'"
187:
sing and play and laugh their lives away. But this isn't so. Most of the people there are hard working folks, and many of them are smart business men. If the tourists want "calypso", that's what we sell them."
442:'s original "Jump in the Line and Wag Your Body in Time" of 1946. "Where Did The Naughty Little Flea Go?" has been also been covered by Belafonte (who stated that Lord Flea was the song's composer), as well as
470:"Wheel and Turn Me" b/w "Matty Rag" / "Brown Skin Gal" – with the Jamaican Calypsonians (Times Record label UD 1003 D JAM 103/D JAM 104) ("Wheel and Turn Me" appears on the 2006 CD compilation
182:
The music produced by Lord Flea and other artists from the
Caribbean islands was marketed as 'calypso' but Flea's style was actually known as 'mento'. In a 1957 interview for the UK
412:
the chorus with gusto, and in the
Calypsonians' "Pretty Woman", Flea advises that "Love is the common enemy", and begs that you should "Run, run, run! When you see a pretty woman".
254:
mistake", in which a psychologist studying "Mass
Hysteria and the Popular Singer" persuades the "Bop Girl" of the title to embrace the "calypso" style, and to abandon her previous
590:
Some sources, including contemporary sources, give his age at death as 27, and others as 25. His daughter, quoted in 2004, gave his age as 27, but in 2008 gave it as 25.
273:, "Flea chalked up new house records, as he been doing the past few months in New York's Jamaica Room." Unfortunately for the Caribbean mento/calypso artists, as
240:
The late 1950s calypso craze extended to the film world. Rising star Lord Flea and his band appeared in two films released in 1957. The Calypsonians feature in
480:"Time So Hard" / "Old Lady" b/w "Solas Market" / "Water Come From Me Eye" – with the Jamaican Calypsonians (Times Record label UD 1003 D JAM 101/D JAM 102)
926:
489:
1. "Time so Hard" / "Old Lady" b/w "Solas Market" / "Water Comes From My Eye". 2. "Wheel and Turn Me" b/w "Mattie Rag" / "Brown Skin Gal". 3.
467:"Man Forty Leg" b/w "The Number One" – with the Blue Mountain Caroleers (1953 CT 101 AT/3 AT/4 Calypsotime label, and also Calypsodisc)
477:"Donkey City" b/w "Run Mongoose" / "Linstead Market" – with the Jamaican Calypsonians (Times Record label UD 1003 D JAM 105/D JAM 106)
1024:
171:. Early singles featuring Flea's vocal performances were attributed to "The Blue Mountain Caroleers" or "The Jamaican Calypsonians".
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magazine had already noted in March 1957: "Financially, American imitators are doing better than such authentic calypso singers as
464:"Ol Fowl" b/w "Irene & Yo' Fr'en" – with the Blue Blue Mountain Caroleers (1953 Calypsodisc label CT.100) (Savoy Record Shop)
262:
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craze in U.S." With his band The Calypsonians, Flea toured America throughout the late 1950s, and released an album on the
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The original version of "Naughty Little Flea" recorded for the Times Record label, was probably the first record produced
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438:'s earlier 1955 recording "Labor Day (Jump in the Line)" for inspiration, which itself was a cover of
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287:), whose cleaned-up version of the nocturnal wanderings of a flea is also a nightclub favorite."
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Flea recorded and released records with the assistance of local business men, Alec Durie and
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The band played ceaselessly in America throughout the calypso craze. The band performed at
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where they performed "Shake Shake Sonora" and "Where Did The Naughty Little Flea Go?"
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Excerpt from "Mister Give Me Ma Rent", Lord Flea and his Calypsonians (Capitol, 1957)
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Mento, Jamaica's Original Music: Development, Tourism and the Nationalist Frame
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Other humorous moments abound in Flea's work. "Donkey Bray" features Lord Flea
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Six of Lord Flea's Ken Khouri Times Record sides appear on the compilation LP
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Lord Flea and his Calypsonians appeared in the edition of 11 February 1957 of
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also saw the band featured in more musically-orientated US magazines such as
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897:"Mister Pay Me Ma Rent", Lord Flea & his Calypsonians (Capitol, 1957).
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recorded a version of Lord Flea's "Shake Shake Sonora" which was renamed "
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soon received a contract and began to perform for six months in America.
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Excerpt from "Calypso Be Bop", Lord Flea & his Calypsonians (1957)
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Little Flea's version of "Shake Shake Sonora" (later to be covered by
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In the night I sleep like a rabbit — a dirty sheet off of a blanket
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283:, or Lord Flea and His Calypsonians (Lord Fish Ray, Count Spoon,
915:"Pretty Woman", Lord Flea & his Calypsonians (Capitol, 1957)
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On 9 February 1957 Lord Flea & His Calypsonians appeared on
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It really enchanted me just to hear him play "Anthropology"..
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141:
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973:"Lord Flea and his Calypsonians – Swingin' Calypsos (1957)"
878:"Lord Flea and his Calypsonians – Swingin' Calypsos (1957)"
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906:"Monkey", Lord Flea & his Calypsonians (Capitol, 1957)
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In an interview Lord Flea revealed his thoughts about the
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And she have the audacity to tell me I'm livin' in luxury!
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875:
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Teenagers And Teenpics: Juvenilization Of American Movies
152:. The band also performed in two calypso-related films.
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I nearly went crazy when I hear the records of Gillespie
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491:
Run Mongoose" / "Linstead Market" b/w "Donkey City".
325:
And on the other part — no hot water to take a bath
852:For One Week Only: The World of Exploitation Films
927:"Jump in the line (Shake Señora): Lord Kitchener"
322:No chair, no table — this convenience is terrible
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773:Nielsen Business Media, Inc (23 February 1957).
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140:(1931/32 or 1933/34 – 18 May 1959), a Jamaican
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341:In his "Calypso Be Bop", Flea name-checks his
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675:, 4 January 2015. Retrieved 4 January 2015
144:musician credited with "helping start the
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971:I'm Learning to Share (26 January 2008).
876:I'm Learning to Share (26 January 2008).
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617:. Johnson Publishing Company. 4 June 1959
502:Rookumbine: Authentic Calypsos and Mentos
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828:. Temple University Press. p. 81.
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357:receives a mention, the song refers to
174:Bill Saxon, owner of 'Club Calypso' on
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428:" and later appeared in the 1988 film
244:, and they perform several numbers in
719:"U.S. Tourists Rush to the Caribbean"
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377:This be-bop music, is really terrific
374:This be-bop music, is really terrific
369:is also recommended to the listener:
211:, as well as the UK's first issue of
667:Unsung Heroes A Good Time To Reflect
515:, Lord Flea & his Calypsonians (
304:the time, the longest ever seen in
231:) was reviewed in February 1957 by
13:
14:
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955:Michael Garnice (11 March 2012).
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751:Michael Garnice (11 March 2012).
696:Michael Garnice (11 March 2012).
353:" apparently sent Flea 'crazy'.
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1025:Musicians from Kingston, Jamaica
822:Doherty, Thomas Patrick (2010).
636:Tannehill Neely, Daniel (2007).
572:Jump in the Line (Shake, Senora)
426:Jump in the Line (Shake, Senora)
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929:. Trinizagada. Archived from
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855:. Eirini Press. p. 26.
725:. LIFE inc. 11 February 1957
299:, Lord Flea was admitted to
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925:Santiwah (6 August 2011).
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301:Jackson Memorial Hospital
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34:Thomas performing in 1957
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957:"Mento Music: Lord Flea"
753:"Mento Music: Lord Flea"
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538:"Mister Give Me De Rent"
519:, 1957). Track listing:
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1040:Capitol Records artists
698:"Mento Music Lord Flea"
265:for six months, and in
71:18 May 1959 (age 24–28)
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339:
136:was the stage name of
40:Background information
1030:Jamaican male singers
556:"Naughty Little Flea"
485:Calypsos From Jamaica
448:Toots and the Maytals
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319:
247:Bop Girl Goes Calypso
138:Norman Byfield Thomas
50:Norman Byfield Thomas
849:Meyers, Ric (2011).
532:"I Can't Cross Over"
523:"Shake Shake Sonora"
361:as a 'smasher', and
121:Calypsodisc, Times,
258:singing technique.
221:The Perry Como Show
160:Thomas was born in
804:has generic name (
526:"Shi-Du-Bi-Du-Bab"
472:Take Me To Jamaica
176:Biscayne Boulevard
73:Miami, Florida, US
58:1931/32 or 1933/34
529:"Bachelor's Life"
513:Swingin' Calypsos
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434:. Flea had used
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306:Miami-Dade County
297:Hodgkin's Disease
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205:Hep Cat's Review
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184:Calypso Star
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109:Years active
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1020:1959 deaths
775:"Billboard"
567:Calypsonian
455:Discography
431:Beetlejuice
395:West Indian
359:Miles Davis
256:rock'n'roll
242:Calypso Joe
1009:Categories
598:References
498:Ken Khouri
169:Ken Khouri
100:Instrument
92:Occupation
46:Birth name
996:Lord Flea
987:Lord Flea
779:Billboard
345:heroes.
267:Las Vegas
234:Billboard
134:Lord Flea
113:1949–1959
63:, Jamaica
22:Lord Flea
978:14 April
962:14 April
937:16 April
883:14 April
784:14 April
758:14 April
729:14 April
703:14 April
621:14 April
561:See also
541:"Monkey"
420:In 1961
162:Kingston
95:Musician
61:Kingston
991:Discogs
460:Singles
410:braying
365:legend
269:at the
209:Calypso
146:calypso
123:Capitol
86:calypso
859:
832:
646:
544:"Love"
508:Albums
446:, and
416:Covers
156:Career
118:Labels
103:Vocals
78:Genres
1015:Mento
578:Notes
343:Bebop
291:Death
285:et al
271:Dunes
142:mento
82:Mento
1000:IMDb
980:2013
964:2013
939:2013
885:2013
857:ISBN
830:ISBN
806:help
786:2013
760:2013
731:2013
723:LIFE
705:2013
644:ISBN
623:2013
363:Jazz
349:'s "
276:Time
207:and
200:Life
68:Died
55:Born
998:at
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615:Jet
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