THE first official National Calypso Competition was held in 1939 at the Princess Building, Queen’s Park Savannah, on the Wednesday before Carnival.

It was a few years later that the competition shifted to Carnival Sunday.

There were six contestants and the Growling Tiger landed the first place.

His take-home prize was $20.

Attila the Hun placed second, while Pretender came third.

According to our research, the six finalists that year are all dead now.

MIGHTY SPARROW

The last one to pass away was Pretender, on February 22, 2002. He was 85.

In the said 1939 finals, Tiger arrived late for the competition and was about to be exempted, when the other contestants stood up on his behalf and begged for him to perform, an indication of how Calypsonians were united in those days.

He performed and came out the winner.

Only one song was sang for the finals, until 1958 when they were made to sing two songs.

Striker won that year and the following year, 1959.

He was the first Calypsonian to win back-to-back.

The National Semi-Finals used to take place at Naparima Bowl, San Fernando the day before the finals.

Calypso was the featured Carnival competition back in those days, before 1960 when the first Panorama competition was held alongside the National Calypso Competition.

In years to follow, the final night before Carnival Monday (Dimanche Gras) saw the Carnival Queen, Steelband finals and the National Panorama finals all wrapped up into one show.

Then the National Panorama finals were shifted to Carnival Saturday night.

But back to Calypso.

New kid on the block, the Mighty Sparrow won in 1956 with Jean and Dinah.

However, in 1957 he held a protest, advocating better conditions and prize money for calypsonians.

In those days, the Jaceeys used to be the organiser for the Carnival Queen competition.

Sparrow complained that the Carnival queen’s prize was more attractive than what Calypsonians received: the Carnival queens received more money, furniture, and also a trip to another country.

He was also upset about the lack of respect for calypsonians.

Calypsonians’ lyrics also had to be inspected by the Chief of Police before they could be sung in public.

Of course, some artistes used to submit one set of lyrics for the Police Chief, and sing a different set on stage.

Since he had already sanctioned the song, he could not do any-thing while they were singing.

But there was one night when Captain Arthur Andrew Cipirani had to go on stage and stand in front of an artiste to prevent him from being arrested.

Cipriani told the police: “If you arrest him you would have to arrest me also.”

Sparrow refused to participate in the competition from 1957 to 1959, because of the lack of concern and respect for Calypsonians.

He returned in 1960 and won the title.

Calypsonians today salute the Mighty Sparrow for the stand he took, which helped improved things for the calypso fraternity.