The Honourable David Michael Rudder OCC (born 6 May 1953) is a Trinidadian

calypsonian A calypsonian, originally known as a ''chantwell'', is a musician from the anglophone Caribbean who sings songs of the Calypso music, calypso genre. Calypsos are musical renditions having their origins in the West African griot tradition. Origin ...

, known to be one of the most successful calypsonians of all time. He performed as lead singer for the brass band Charlie's Roots. Nine years later, Rudder stepped outside the band, entering the

calypso tent Calypso tents are venues in which calypsonians perform during the Carnival season. They usually are cinema halls, community centers, or other indoor buildings which have seating and stage arrangements to host the entertainers, guests and patrons ...

as a solo calypsonian in 1986, which was followed by an unprecedented rise to fame. "Almost overnight he became a national hero of the order of Marley in Jamaica, Fela in Nigeria and Springsteen in New Jersey," wrote Daisann McClane, American journalist and

Worldbeat Worldbeat is a music genre that blends pop music or rock music with world music or traditional music. Worldbeat is similar to other cross-pollination labels of contemporary and roots genres, and which suggest a rhythmic, harmonic or textural co ...

correspondent for ''

Rolling Stone ''Rolling Stone'' is an American monthly magazine that focuses on music, politics, and popular culture. It was founded in San Francisco, California, in 1967 by Jann Wenner and the music critic Ralph J. Gleason. The magazine was first known fo ...

'' magazine. Rudder's music quickly became the subject of music critics around the world: "From New York to London to Tokyo, where the Japanese have released a CD of Rudder's greatest hits complete with lyrics translated into Japanese, Rudder has been described as modern calypso's most innovative songwriter."

Early life

Born in

Belmont, Port of Spain Belmont, in north-east Port of Spain, in the Republic of Trinidad and Tobago, is located at the foot of the Laventille Hills; it was the city's first suburb. In the 1840s–'50s, parts of the area were settled by Africans rescued by the Royal Na ...

Trinidad and Tobago Trinidad and Tobago, officially the Republic of Trinidad and Tobago, is the southernmost island country in the Caribbean, comprising the main islands of Trinidad and Tobago, along with several List of islands of Trinidad and Tobago, smaller i ...

, one of nine children, Rudder spent much of his early life with his grandmother, a devout Baptist. He began singing with a calypso band at the age of 11. In his teens, he sang backup vocals in a calypso tent run by calypsonian Lord Kitchener, while earning his living as an accountant with the Trinidad Bus Company.

Career

In 1977, Rudder joined Charlie's Roots, a leading band in Trinidad and Tobago, which launched with help and sponsorship from New York-based record producer Rawlson Charles. Rudder spent many years as one of the band's vocalists. In 1986, he came to prominence on Andy Narell's album ''The Hammer'', which produced two big hits: "The Hammer" (a tribute to the late pannist Rudolph Charles) and "Bahia Girl". This was followed in 1987 with "Calypso Music", a brilliant encapsulation of the history of calypso. In 1988, Rudder released what is widely considered his best album to date, ''Haiti'', which included the

title track A title track is a song that has the same name as the album An album is a collection of audio recordings (e.g., music) issued on a medium such as compact disc (CD), Phonograph record, vinyl (record), audio tape (like 8-track cartridge, 8-t ...

, a tribute to the glory and suffering of

Haiti Haiti, officially the Republic of Haiti, is a country on the island of Hispaniola in the Caribbean Sea, east of Cuba and Jamaica, and south of the Bahamas. It occupies the western three-eighths of the island, which it shares with the Dominican ...

; "Engine Room", which captured the energy of the steel band; and " Rally 'Round the West Indies", which (with modified lyrics) became the anthem of West Indies cricket. In 1991, four tracks performed by Rudder were included in the soundtrack of the film '' Wild Orchid'': "Dark Secret" (two versions), "Children Of Fire (Call Of Xango)", and "Just a Carnival", which includes Rudder in the final scene in the movie "performing" on the beach. In 1996, he was appointed a Goodwill Ambassador for the

United Nations Development Programme The United Nations Development Programme (UNDP) is a United Nations agency tasked with helping countries eliminate poverty and achieve sustainable economic growth and human development. The UNDP emphasizes on developing local capacity towar ...

(UNDP). In 2008, Rudder did a soca collaboration with fellow Trinidadian

Machel Montano Machel Montano (born 24 November 1974)Thompson, Dave (2002), ''Reggae & Soca Music'', Backbeat Books, , pp. 300–301. is a Trinidad and Tobago, Trinidadian Soca music, soca recording artist and record producer. Known for his high energy, fast-pa ...

, "Oil and Music" on Machel's 2007 album ''

Flame On ''Flame On'' is an album by Trinidadian soca artist Machel Montano, released in 2008. It was first launched at Trinidad's Club Zen on 16 January 2008. The album marked Montano's second release after rebranding to Machel Montano HD in 2007. A rel ...

''. In 2011, Rudder performed a soca collaboration called "Glow" with

Barbados Barbados, officially the Republic of Barbados, is an island country in the Atlantic Ocean. It is part of the Lesser Antilles of the West Indies and the easternmost island of the Caribbean region. It lies on the boundary of the South American ...

' "Queen of Soca"

Alison Hinds Alison Amanda Hinds (born June 1 1970) is a British-born Bajan soca singer based in Barbados. She is often referred to as the Bajan " Queen of Soca" as a result of her impact on the genre. Biography Alison Hinds was born on 1 June 1970 in Lo ...

. On 28 April 2022, Rudder's "Trini 2 De Bone" appeared in the FX comedy ''

Atlanta Atlanta ( ) is the List of capitals in the United States, capital and List of municipalities in Georgia (U.S. state), most populous city in the U.S. state of Georgia (U.S. state), Georgia. It is the county seat, seat of Fulton County, Georg ...

'' in the seventh episode of season 3 also entitled "Trini 2 De Bone". He has released more than 30 albums and has performed in venues across the Caribbean, Europe, North and South America, Asia, and Africa. In April 2023, Rudder announced that he had been diagnosed with

Parkinson's disease Parkinson's disease (PD), or simply Parkinson's, is a neurodegenerative disease primarily of the central nervous system, affecting both motor system, motor and non-motor systems. Symptoms typically develop gradually and non-motor issues become ...

. He would continue to write new material and give smaller concerts, but would cease exhausting performances after his 70th birthday.

Awards and honours

In 1992, Rudder was awarded a Hummingbird Silver Medal by the Government of Trinidad and Tobago. He was later appointed, in 1996, as a Goodwill Ambassador to the

(UNDP). On 2 May 2018, Rudder was also bestowed the keys to the city of

Port of Spain Port of Spain ( ; Trinidadian and Tobagonian English, Trinidadian English: ''Port ah Spain'' ) is the capital and chief port of Trinidad and Tobago. With a municipal population of 49,867 (2017), an urban population of 81,142 and a transient dail ...

. On 25 October 2015, the

University of the West Indies The University of the West Indies (UWI), originally University College of the West Indies, is a public university system established to serve the higher education needs of the residents of 18 English-speaking countries and territories in t ...

(UWI) awarded Rudder the honorary degree Doctor of Letters (D.Litt.), in recognition of his "outstanding" contributions to Caribbean culture. On 3 July 2022, Rudder was conferred with the

Order of the Caribbean Community The Order of the Caribbean Community is an award given to The award was initiated at the Eighth (8th) Conference of Heads of State and Governments of CARICOM in 1987 and began bestowal in 1992. Decisions as to award are taken by the Advisory ...

(OCC).

Discography

Filmography

Film

Television

References

External links

David Rudder's
official fan website
David Rudder's
official MySpace Page * Joy A. I. Mahabir

''Jouvert'' 6 (3), 2002.
"King David holds court"
''Trinidad and Tobago Guardian'', 2013.