BARBUDA'S FIRST CARIBANA - Antigua & Barbuda

Calypso
profile
A mechanic, father, calypsonian,
composer, tent operator, tourism
ambassador etc!
Xmas Day 1949 marked the arrival
of Ogliver Jacobs, better known as
The Lord Destroyer, affectionately
dubbed, Destroyer Senior, is the
uncrowned Calypso King of Antigua
& Barbuda, with a career that spans
over 40 years and counting.
He was born to a poor working
class family of thirteen children in
Potters Village . He was a twin child.
Like most Antiguan boys, at the
time, he was able to find meaningful
employment at the Antigua Sugar
Factory on leaving school.
Singing “benna” was his first love
but due to a lack of opportunities, he
was unable to showcase his Godgiven
talents in the entertainment
field. As a complete calypsonian
and entertainer, Mighty Sparrow has
always been his icon.
Destroyer has acknowledged that
Mighty Sparrow has earned his
rightful place as “King of the Calypso
World.” However, Destroyer got the
opportunity to see his idol for the first
time while he performed at the Gem
Cinema in 1967.
Leading up to Carnival ’67 in Antigua
he approached Oscar Mason and
was registered to perform at the
Calypso Tent located at Kensington
Bar which was run by Darcy. During
the season, he performed a song
named, “CAT O’ NINE,” which was a
social commentary addressing issues
relating to crime. Lord Destroyer was
well received during that season.
In those days, Oscar Mason, in
addition to being bandleader, was
also the paymaster. Destroyer
recalled being paid thirty-five cents
to perform at the tent. Smarty Senior,
Calypso Brain, Mighty Dove, Lord
Lee, Creole, Bottle, Short Shirt,
Skeetch, Mighty Swallow, Falcon
(Lady Falcon’s father), Britannia
and Bold Face were amongst the
prominent calypsonians then. He
also recalled that Marcus Christopher
was the top composer as he wrote
Ogliver Destroyer Jacobs
Richard Apparicio
for many of the calypsonians.
Like most artistes, Lord
Destroyer had his share of
rejection by the judges. His
first fate occurred in 1968
when he rendered “RIOT” and
“EDUCATION.” He was depressed
with the decision, but not dejected,
and was told that regardless
of the quality of his songs, the
judges had little interest in political
commentaries. However, there
was love and unity amongst the
calypsonians when compared to
the type of rivalry being exhibited
nowadays.
Lord Destroyer never lost interest in
his first love - calypso. He had his
fair share of dreams of capturing the
Calypso Monarch title in Antigua.
The early 1970’s brought many
changes. There was a change in the
local government while the Carnival
Committee introduced the Caribbean
Calypso Competition as part of its
programme. While these changes
were taking place, Destroyer enjoyed
great success in the 1971 season
with his songs “HIGHWAY CODE”
and “PROBLEMS OF THE WORLD”.
He was able to secure the first
runner-up position that year.
He recalled, that Kaiso Joe was
involved in a motor vehicle accident
and never participated in the
eliminations (semi-finals) but granted
a pass into the finals and captured
the crown. Despite this decision,
Destroyer and his fellow competitors
accepted the final outcome at
the competition without any hard
feelings.
While Lord Lee was adjudged 2nd
runner-up, Short Shirt, because of a
disagreement with Oscar Mason did
not compete in the local competition
but went on to regain his crown in the
Caribbean Calypso Competition.
Antigua’s Carnival continued to
grow by leaps and bounds with
the Calypso
Competition becoming the flagship
of the festival. Meanwhile, Destroyer
had established himself as a
consistent finalist and a household
name in calypso.
While Short Shirt and Swallow
shared the reigns of calypso
supremacy, Destroyer had to wait
for another sixteen years before
he came close again to calypso
supremacy. In a truly memorable
outstanding performance in the finals
in 1989, Destroyer was so near and
yet so far from Calypso Monarch. He
soldiered on.
The following year, 1990, saw the
arrival of his son, Leston Jacobs
who performs under sobriquet
“Young Destroyer” on the calypso
scene. At the tender age of eight, he
walked away with the Junior Calypso
Monarch title.
With the combined efforts of
Destroyer as composer and Young
Destoryer as artiste, they have
been able to achieve victory in the
declared land of calypso, Trinidad
& Tobago. Young Destroyer walking
away with the Caribbean Youth
Calypso Competition in 2002 and
the Carifesta Calypso Monarch
Competition in 2006.
While we celebrate our Golden
Jubilee, Mighty Destroyer and Young
Destroyer are now forty years and
eighteen years on the calypso stage.
Hats off to these two great calypso
icons for a tremendous contribution!
Long live the Destroyers!
God Bless!
come celebrate
our
golden jubilee