BASSETERRE, St. Kitts – “MOUTH open…Calypso jump out.” This description is most applicable in vividly portraying one of the Federation’s natural calypsonian, Maxwell Peter Bass, known in calypso circles as the Mighty Controller. Some people refer to him as the ‘Jumbie Calypsonian’ on account of his compositions which depict ‘life’ in the cemetery.
In St. Kitts, natural calypsonians are rare and, while I cannot recall all of them, amongst this group are Professor, King Pharaoh, King Arrow and the late King Barky and Lord Mikes.
These artistes exhibited raw talent.
Early Years
The Mighty Controller started singing Calypsos as a youth at the St. Peter’s Primary School, where he built up a strong fan base amongst his peers, especially when singing the latest Kitchener or Sparrow hits.
In February 1968, Controller rose to national prominence when he was crowned the first anniversary Statehood Calypso King of St. Kitts. His winning masterpiece was ‘Birth of a Nation’.
In the following year, he entered the Carnival Calypso Competition singing ‘Play Mas Miss Tourist’ and was First Runner-up to King Pharoah.
National Carnival Calypso Competition
With the emergence of National Carnival in 1971 and with his rapidly-growing popularity, Controller decided to enter that year’s competition. He made it to the Finals.
In 1972, he also made it to the Finals with ‘Love in the Cemetery’ and took the Road March crown in that year with his catchy and rhythmic ‘Right On’. However, in the following year, he suffered from hoarseness which caused him to exit the National Carnival Senior Calypso Competition at the Semi-Finals.
He however bounced back in 1974 and, once again, made it to the Finals.
At that competition, Controller made history as being the first competitor in St. Kitts to have taken a coffin onstage. The coffin was part of his props in his rendition of ‘Return to the Cemetery’, a big follow up to his 1972 hit.
Within Controller’s props were the elements of horror, shock and drama as he emerged from the coffin with a puff of powder on a very dark stage, which had the entire Carnival City’s audience screaming as if they were witnessing a Hollywood vampire movie.
His other hit in the 1974 competition was ‘Raise de Salary’.
Historically, whenever Controller registered to compete in the National Carnival Senior Calypso Competition, he always made it to the Finals and, on most occasions, he always placed in the first three.
Always Writing
Controller was a prolific composer, for throughout any given year he was busy writing Calypsos while his counterparts were waiting for the end of the year to do so.
In fact, the YSCS held a mid-year Calypso competition in the summer of 1969 at St. Johnson’s Village and the criteria clearly stated that competitors must sing a new song. This was definitely straight up Controller’s street and it was no surprise that he won that competition.
Proud Moments in Calypso
One of Controller’s proudest Calypso moments came during the summer of 1989 when he was selected as one of St. Kitts’ top three calypsonians to participate in the annual Federal Calypso Competition held as part of Nevis Culturama Festivities. The other two calypsonians were King Starshield and King Socrates.
In the 1991 Finals, Controller sang two thought-provoking compositions – ‘Touch Someone’ and ‘Letter to Mr. Carnival’. The latter composition was both significant and quite educational. For, here was Controller informing those who did not know and reminding those who knew that Carnival in St. Kitts did not start with the emergence of National Carnival in 1971, but rather way back in the late 50s and throughout the 60s.
He substantiated his argument by acknowledging many of the pioneers and stalwarts of those early Carnival years.
In 1994 the St. Kitts-Nevis Labour Party organised a Calypso completion paying tribute to the late revered National Hero Robert Bradshaw and Controller took the crown.
Although Controller has never been crowned the National Carnival Senior Calypso Monarch, pundits would always argue that he was robbed by the judges on a number of occasions.
A blatant example was in the 1997 Finals when he sang ‘Busy doing Dat’ and ‘The Struggle is On’. That was the year when the judges ‘donated’ the crown to the Mighty Pat.
Controller’s Hits
Looking at the rest of Controller’s hit list, one would recall ‘Sportmanship’ in 1975, ‘Stake him Down’ in 1976, ‘Lasso Man’ in 1978, ‘How can we Forger’ in 1985, ‘I love Michael’ in 1988, ‘We are the Ones’ in 1989, ‘Touch Someone’ in 1991, ‘Madness’ in 1992, ‘Little Wonder’ in 1992, ‘Busting me Brain’ in 1992, ‘Advise to the PM’ in 1998 and ‘Fork-Up’ in 2006.
The Mighty Controller has also written Calypsos for several senior and junior calypsonians, including the reigning National Junior Calypso Monarch, ‘Lil Taj’.
Controller also worked as a Disc Jockey/Announcer on PJF-1 Radio in Saba for some 18 months from the summer of 1984.
EDITOR-IN-CHIEF’S NOTE: In the publishing of our next article on the Mighty Controller, SKNVibes Entertainment will state where the calypsonian is and what he is doing now.
Additionally, 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.
