Mighty Spoiler
Trinidad and Tobago musician
About Mighty Spoiler
Lived 1926 – 1960 (aged 34). Mighty Spoiler was a calypsonian.
Theophilus Philip (23 March 1926 – 26 December 1960), better known as Mighty Spoiler, was a Trinidadian calypsonian.
Spoiler's career began in 1946 (see 1946 in music) at the House of Lords Tent, and he soon became one of the most popular calypso singers, known for hits such as "Bedbug", "Magistrate Try Himself", "Picking Sense From Nonsense", "Royal Wedding". He won the Calypso King title on three occasions, in 1948 (with "Royal Wedding"), 1953 ("Bed Bug"), and 1955 ("Picking Sense From Nonsense").
He died in 1960 of an alcohol-related illness.
Legacy Derek Walcott in his poem "The Spoiler's Return" borrows the calypsonian's persona, reworking his "Bedbug" calypso and making satirical use of Spoiler's trademark incantation: "Ah wanna fall!"
Among Spoiler's students was Grenadian-born calypsonian The Mighty Bomber (Clifton Ryan).
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Important facts
People in Mighty Spoiler's life
Named in this biography and alive at the same time
Related people
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Contemporaries
People whose lives overlapped Mighty Spoiler's
Frequently asked questions
Who was Mighty Spoiler?
Trinidad and Tobago musician
When was Mighty Spoiler born?
Mighty Spoiler was born on 23 March 1926.
When did Mighty Spoiler die?
Mighty Spoiler died on 24 December 1960.
What was Mighty Spoiler's occupation?
Mighty Spoiler was a calypsonian.
Sources & further reading
Cite this page
APA: Biography.guide. (2026). Mighty Spoiler. https://biography.guide/mighty-spoiler/
MLA: "Mighty Spoiler." Biography.guide, https://biography.guide/mighty-spoiler/.
Chicago: "Mighty Spoiler." Biography.guide. https://biography.guide/mighty-spoiler/.
Data last updated: 2026-09-20 · Spot an error? Report a correction.
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