Winsford Devine

Winsford Devine (15 August 1943 – 22 June 2021), known by the sobriquet Joker, was a Trinidad and Tobago songwriter who composed more than 500 calypsos. He worked with calypsonian The Mighty Sparrow for 17 years, writing many of Sparrow's hits, including "Slave", "Philip, My Dear", and "Marajhin". Devine was also the composer of "Progress", which has been ranked among the best calypsos ever.

Early life

Winsford Devine was born in Quarry Village, Morne Diablo, in south Trinidad, the first of five children born to Eurice Des Vignes and Clifford Cooper. An error on his birth certificate recorded his mother's name as Devine, which resulted in this spelling of his name. He was taught to play the cuatro by his father, a parandero, and joined a steelband led by his cousin at the age of nine. After hearing him writing songs, Ross introduced Devine to Syl Taylor, the manager of the Original Young Brigade Calypso Tent, who composed more than 500 songs His compositions include "Progress" (recorded by King Austin), which historian Kim Johnson described as "what many consider is one of the greatest calypsoes"

Awards and honours

In 1998, Devine was awarded the Hummingbird Medal (Silver), a state decoration of Trinidad and Tobago, for his service to music and the arts.

He was named Honorary Distinguished Fellow in the Arts by the University of Trinidad and Tobago in 2016 and received an Honorary Doctor of Letters from the University of the West Indies, St. Augustine in 2017.