Lord Nelson

Lord Nelson, born Robert Nelson, is one of the acknowledged stars of soca.

Background and music career Born and raised in Plymouth, Tobago, Nelson went to the United States after graduating from high school, hoping for a better life in Brooklyn. However, he was soon drafted and sent off with the U.S. forces to Korea, which was where he first showed his talents as a singer and comedian, performing in Army shows.

Back in America, he began singing with West Indian steel bands in Brooklyn, covering calypso hits in his original fashion, much appreciated by the Caribbean community. He started writing his own material under the mentorship of another calypsonian, Mighty Duke and was heralded as the Calypso King of New York in the 1960’s

His legacy consists of more than a party song composer and singer, but also a calypsonian who covered humorous topics, and included social commentary—on subjects such as racism, colonialism, politics, inequality, cultural identity and corruption—in his songs. Nelson, as a resident abroad, had both the opportunity to spread the soca and calypso message beyond the boundary of the islands, as well as performing in Trinidad and Tobago, in the calypso tents.

He is known for wearing one of his jumpsuits when performing on stage, and loves to be referred to as ‘Disco Daddy’ from one of his tunes.

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