Mighty Gabby
Encyclopedia
Anthony "Mighty Gabby" Carter (born March 30, 1948) is a legendary Barbadian calypsonian
and a Cultural Ambassador for the island of Barbados
. He is the youngest calypsonian to win the calypso crown in Barbados at age 19 in 1968 and went on to win the Calypso king title again in 1969, 1976, 1985, 1999, 2000 and again in 2010. He has penned over 700 songs and was awarded Folk Singer Of The Year in 1977, 1978,1979.
for over 40 years, and is known for his satirical songs criticizing politicians and cultural trends. He won the first ever Crop-Over road march title in 1979 with "Burn Mr. Harding" and again in 1982 with "Jack" (dah beach is mine). He received the 2005 Clement Payne
National Hero Award and awarded the Living Legend Award at the first ever Barbados Music Awards in January 2006. He is a vocal Pan-Africanist.
, Andy Williams, Nicholas Brancker, Mike Sealy and the late `Patches' Mendoza. There are no two songs in his 700 collection that echoes the other. Some of his most exciting experimentations are the following: "Rock" (a funk
, rap and kaiso
mixture with Gabby radically changing his vocals: Album: `Til Now, 1990); "Send an Answer" For We (first performed in the Pic-O'-De-Crop semifinals 1993, featuring strong baritone vocals floating alongside a chorus played under a minor key—one of the few kaisos (or calypsoes) where this is attempted, most remembered in Mighty Sparrow's "Slave"); "Make Good Music" (a melodic plea to fellow kaiso musicians to create lasting melodies—this one played around with keys and instrumentation and perhaps it will be remiss not to mention the 1997 winning tunes "Massa Day Done" and "No Sympathy" in this vein); and "Who Gabby Tink He Is" (1985 hit where the music and vocals make for wonderful harmonic riffs atop a flowing, whistling melody. Non-calypso lovers are known to be simply drawn to the music. Topped only by his "Emmerton".)
(a free style singing repartee performed impromptu), a guitarist, a playwright (wrote "Under the Duppy Parasol" and various other plays performed in New York
and Barbados
, and a humanist, his seeming Pan Africanist sympathies had more to do with reappraising the role and symbolism of Africa
in any discussion about Caribbean
self-making. For him, the drum sound was crucial to the making of postcolonial consciousness.
(2005) starring Maulana Karenga, Muhammed Shareef, Francis Cress Welsin, Kimani Nehusi, Paul Robeson Jr, Nelson George
, and many more. The film was written by M.K. Asante, Jr. directed
by Owen 'Alik Shahadah
. On November 11, 2011 The Mighty Gabby was one of many Barbadian entertainers shown on the Where in the World is Matt Lauer?
segment on NBC
.
Calypsonian
A calypsonian , originally known as the chantwell is a musician, from the Anglophone Caribbean, who sings songs called calypso. Calypsos are musical renditions having their origins in the West African griot tradition...
and a Cultural Ambassador for the island of Barbados
Barbados
Barbados is an island country in the Lesser Antilles. It is in length and as much as in width, amounting to . It is situated in the western area of the North Atlantic and 100 kilometres east of the Windward Islands and the Caribbean Sea; therein, it is about east of the islands of Saint...
. He is the youngest calypsonian to win the calypso crown in Barbados at age 19 in 1968 and went on to win the Calypso king title again in 1969, 1976, 1985, 1999, 2000 and again in 2010. He has penned over 700 songs and was awarded Folk Singer Of The Year in 1977, 1978,1979.
Career
The "Mighty Gabby" has been writing and singing calypso musicCalypso music
Calypso is a style of Afro-Caribbean music that originated in Trinidad and Tobago from African and European roots. The roots of the genre lay in the arrival of enslaved Africans, who, not being allowed to speak with each other, communicated through song...
for over 40 years, and is known for his satirical songs criticizing politicians and cultural trends. He won the first ever Crop-Over road march title in 1979 with "Burn Mr. Harding" and again in 1982 with "Jack" (dah beach is mine). He received the 2005 Clement Payne
Clement Payne
Clement Osbourne Payne was a Barbadian pioneer in the Caribbean trade union movement. By an act of Parliament in 1998, Payne was named as one of the ten National Heroes of Barbados....
National Hero Award and awarded the Living Legend Award at the first ever Barbados Music Awards in January 2006. He is a vocal Pan-Africanist.
Witty Lyricist
A crafty lyricist, Gabby’s no-holds-bars lyrics made him the "whipping boy" of politicians who consistently and persistently tried to stifle his expression. But through it all Gabby has triumphed in the court of public opinion. The "verdicts" in his favor are measured to exactness as people from all over the Caribbean and North America respond with frenzied actions to his music.Master Melody-Maker
He is one of the most creative melody makers working alongside a bevy of regional arrangers including Frankie McIntosh, Eddy GrantEddy Grant
Edmond Montague "Eddy" Grant is a musician, born in Plaisance, Guyana.- Life and career :When he was still a young boy, his parents emigrated to London, UK, where he settled. He lived in Kentish Town and went to school at the Acland Burghley Secondary Modern at Tufnell Park...
, Andy Williams, Nicholas Brancker, Mike Sealy and the late `Patches' Mendoza. There are no two songs in his 700 collection that echoes the other. Some of his most exciting experimentations are the following: "Rock" (a funk
Funk
Funk is a music genre that originated in the mid-late 1960s when African American musicians blended soul music, jazz and R&B into a rhythmic, danceable new form of music. Funk de-emphasizes melody and harmony and brings a strong rhythmic groove of electric bass and drums to the foreground...
, rap and kaiso
Kaiso
Kaiso is a type of music popular in Trinidad and other Islands of the Caribbean such as Grenada, St. Lucia, Barbados and St. Kitts & Nevis which originated in West Africa, and later evolved into Calypso. Kaiso songs are generally narrative in form and often have a cleverly concealed political...
mixture with Gabby radically changing his vocals: Album: `Til Now, 1990); "Send an Answer" For We (first performed in the Pic-O'-De-Crop semifinals 1993, featuring strong baritone vocals floating alongside a chorus played under a minor key—one of the few kaisos (or calypsoes) where this is attempted, most remembered in Mighty Sparrow's "Slave"); "Make Good Music" (a melodic plea to fellow kaiso musicians to create lasting melodies—this one played around with keys and instrumentation and perhaps it will be remiss not to mention the 1997 winning tunes "Massa Day Done" and "No Sympathy" in this vein); and "Who Gabby Tink He Is" (1985 hit where the music and vocals make for wonderful harmonic riffs atop a flowing, whistling melody. Non-calypso lovers are known to be simply drawn to the music. Topped only by his "Emmerton".)
The Unpublished Recordings: At His Mercurial Best
Anthony `Mighty Gabby' Carter has created a number of gems that are unrecorded and constitute part of the public work he puts out as a contribution to the island's national summer festival (known as Crop Over). There are countless hits he has penned for others like "Victory" sung by T.C (Terencia Coward) in 1996; "Admiral" sung by the promising Ian Webster in 2003 (who has since took up missionary work with his Church); "Mulatto" sung by Tony (`Commander' now `Poser') Grazette back in 1985; and "Crop Over Coming" sung by Anderson `Blood' Armstrong in 2006 that are part of the pantheon of songs Barbadians most enjoy. Some of the calypsoes that have slipped into obscurity because these were not recorded on wax or vinyl but were impactful in the Calypso Tents or other venues at the time of release include: "Parks and Terraces" (1992); "Village Music" (a guitar version offered to radio deejay Anthony `Admiral' Nelson, circa 2004; "Wuk Up" (2000)(which belts out "De Highway Belong to We" in response to that aspect in the debate about decency in revelry that denigrates dance with the use of the pelvic area—a song oddly enough that hardly gets airplay); "Blackman" (1990); "Black Man Wake Up" (1998); and "Riots in De Land" (1978). A great exponent of picongPicong
Picong or Piquant is light comical banter, usually at someone else's expense. It is the way in which West Indians tease, heckle and mock each other in a friendly manner...
(a free style singing repartee performed impromptu), a guitarist, a playwright (wrote "Under the Duppy Parasol" and various other plays performed in New York
New York
New York is a state in the Northeastern region of the United States. It is the nation's third most populous state. New York is bordered by New Jersey and Pennsylvania to the south, and by Connecticut, Massachusetts and Vermont to the east...
and Barbados
Barbados
Barbados is an island country in the Lesser Antilles. It is in length and as much as in width, amounting to . It is situated in the western area of the North Atlantic and 100 kilometres east of the Windward Islands and the Caribbean Sea; therein, it is about east of the islands of Saint...
, and a humanist, his seeming Pan Africanist sympathies had more to do with reappraising the role and symbolism of Africa
Africa
Africa is the world's second largest and second most populous continent, after Asia. At about 30.2 million km² including adjacent islands, it covers 6% of the Earth's total surface area and 20.4% of the total land area...
in any discussion about Caribbean
Caribbean
The Caribbean is a crescent-shaped group of islands more than 2,000 miles long separating the Gulf of Mexico and the Caribbean Sea, to the west and south, from the Atlantic Ocean, to the east and north...
self-making. For him, the drum sound was crucial to the making of postcolonial consciousness.
Film Appearance
Gabby starred in the multi-award winning documentary 500 Years Later500 Years Later
500 Years Later is the title of an independent documentary film directed by Owen 'Alik Shahadah, written by M. K. Asante, Jr. released in 2005. It won five international film festival awards in the category of Best Documentary...
(2005) starring Maulana Karenga, Muhammed Shareef, Francis Cress Welsin, Kimani Nehusi, Paul Robeson Jr, Nelson George
Nelson George
Nelson George is an African American author, columnist, music and culture critic, journalist, and filmmaker. He has been nominated twice for the National Book Critics Circle Award....
, and many more. The film was written by M.K. Asante, Jr. directed
Film director
A film director is a person who directs the actors and film crew in filmmaking. They control a film's artistic and dramatic nathan roach, while guiding the technical crew and actors.-Responsibilities:...
by Owen 'Alik Shahadah
Owen 'Alik Shahadah
Owen 'Alik Shahadah is a director, African writer, and scholar. He is best known for authoring works, which deal with African history, social justice, environmental issues, education and world peace...
. On November 11, 2011 The Mighty Gabby was one of many Barbadian entertainers shown on the Where in the World is Matt Lauer?
Where in the World is Matt Lauer?
Where in the World is Matt Lauer? is a segment on NBC's Today show, which features co-host Matt Lauer traveling the world to various locations within one week. The title is similar to the children's computer game and PBS game show Where in the World is Carmen Sandiego?, and the segment's opening...
segment on NBC
NBC
The National Broadcasting Company is an American commercial broadcasting television network and former radio network headquartered in the GE Building in New York City's Rockefeller Center with additional major offices near Los Angeles and in Chicago...
.
Nigerian Chief
Anthony Gabby Carter was named a Nigerian chief, which symbolises that he is head of a community or clan and is a source of authority. His elevation was celebrated by the Sons of God Apostolic Spiritual Baptist Church in Ealing Grove, Christ Church, where a special service was held in his honour. It was conducted by Archbishop Granville Williams. Gabby, who recently visited Nigeria, was given the name Omowale, which means "our son has returned". The service was also to coincide with the United Nations designated Black Civilisation Day, which was commentated on Saturday.Song sample
Selected songs
- - Black Man Wake Up
- - Boots
- - Hit It
- - Cadavers
- - The List
- - West Indian Politician
- - Culture
- - Emmerton
- - Gisela
- - Pow Pow
- - Bridgetown
- - Boo Boo Man
- - Dr Cassandra
- - Debra
- - Jack
- - Windforce
- - Burn Mr. Harding
- - Chicken And Ram
- - Lord Nelson
- - Black Man Wake Up
- - Inez
- - Flying Fish Diplomacy
- - Miss Barbados
- - Roberta Flack
- - Jouvert Morning
- - Massa Day Done
- - Cockfight
- - Country Boy
- - Easy Come Easy Go
- - Rock
- - Sweeter Than You
- - Now For Now
- - In De Savannah
- - Well Done