BASSETERRE, St. Kitts – LIKE many talented calypsonians from the village of Cayon, Charles Fraser is known for his controversial but yet witty lyrics. However, one wonders, who or what had motivated this retired Kaiso singer?
SKNVibes Entertainment caught up with this Calypso sensation over the last weekend in the heart of Basseterre, where he explained that while growing up in St. Mary’s Parish, Cayon, he was motivated to not only sing Calypso but to uplift himself.
“Sparrow sang a song called ‘Children go to school and Learn’, and I was a big Calypso fan when I was younger and that song inspired me not only to go to school and learn but to do my best in whatever I do, “Charles said.
Comparing his schooldays with those of the children of today, Fraser opined that with the advancement in technology, the rule of learning he once experienced “does not apply today”.
Fraser added that as a young man, he was always fascinated by the Mighty Sparrow and Lord Kitchener. “Sparrow’s song ‘The lizard run up she foot and disappear’ was a song I always loved, and Kitchener had one called ‘Park me pee pee any place’. I used to play them over and over again,” he said.
Fraser said that his performing name, ‘De Priest’, was derived from his childhood nickname ‘Charlie Chaplin’. “My friends use to call me Charlie Chaplin and then I went to the Virgin Islands for several years and my friends started to call me De Priest.”
De Priest told SKNVibes that during his controversial years as a contestant in the National Carnival Senior Calypso Competition, one of his hits, ‘Big Fish eating small Fish’, had emotionally moved many people in St. Kitts and Nevis.
“The song spoke about the sea where fish such as the Salmon can go to certain parts of the coral reef but, sadly, the smaller fish can’t. In a real sense, I was speaking about the things rich people do that the poor man can’t.”
Although De Priest never made it to the Finals at any of the Senior Calypso Competition in which he competed, he said that another calypso called Phonsie left him with the best advice that encouraged him to keep on trying.
“He told me that whenever you write a Calypso, paint a picture. When they hear it they can imagine seeing whatever you are trying to put out there.”
This is just Part One of this exclusive interview. Look out for Part Two in which De Priest talks about his contribution to the annual Green Valley celebration.
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.
