BASSETERRE, St. Kitts – AFTER serving over a decade as Director of Culture, Creighton Pencheon, known in the Calypso arena as the Mighty Crusader, has a number of things planned now that he is retired.
In our last interview, Pencheon explained that the remuneration packages in those days were not as motivating as they currently are, making the then artistes of the genre performing for the love of Calypso.
“I remember my first Calypso finals…I got a bottle of either Old Oak or Mount Gay Rum and about $50. You see, in those days Calypso was looked down and frowned upon because it was as an art form for the rejects of society and drunkards,” Pencheon said.
Pencheon further explained that in his days of singing Calypsos they never received the kind of assistance that performers get today. “Calypsonians get money to sing in the tents and some of them, of course, will get sponsorship. In my days it was difficult! Firstly, you weren’t even paid for tents. You were even lucky to get a song out.”
Due to the fact that in those days there was no recording studio in the Federation, most of the music was recorded live. Crusader explained that this was never a setback for calypsonians then, because it captured the excitement onstage as it unfolded.
“Those recordings are still vintage,” Pencheon said.
Apart from his singing career, Pencheon was also a member of the Melotones Band. He and Clifford Isaacs formed the band in which he was a guitarist. “It saved me some time because I could practice right in the country rather than coming to Basseterre,” he explained.
When asked about the difference in Calypsos between yesteryear and modern day, Pencheon said: “I think calypsos in the past were more creative. Nowadays you have to search hard and long to find songs that have striking metaphors and vivid imagery and those kinds of things. I also think the bands were better…and better musicians. However, the quality of recording nowadays is way superior.”
His advice
Although retired, Pencheon is still involved in the Youth Calypso Programme.
“In spite of the distraction or attractions from North America and music, I try to tell them this is our music and it is a part of our culture. It is a vehicle where you can express your feelings…good or bad, and you can use it as a platform to educate people. I always tell them whenever I got onstage I felt like if I was a god and people were just imbibing all that I had to offer onstage. In addition to that, it’s a chance to build self-confidence and self-esteem to a certain extent and notoriety,” Pencheon said.
Where is he now?
Pencheon spends most of his days as a consultant and writing on various educational topics. He also facilitates education workshops for teachers and other people in the Shadwell community.
Also, he is actively involved in advertisement, especially businesses, writing jingles and teaches young aspiring musicians the art of guitar playing.
Editor-in-Chief's Note: SKNVibes solicits suggestions from the public in identifying other individuals who have made significant contributions to the Calypso art form in St. Kitts and Nevis. Feel free to email us at newsroom@sknvibes.com or call us at (869) 466-9242 or (869) 662-3901 and pass on the relevant information.
