Still Going Strong
Clifton Ryan - The Mighty Bomber
TriniView.com Reporters
December 29, 2004
Clifton Ryan known in the calypso world as the Mighty Bomber was born in St Georges, Grenada on 30th January 1928. His mother was a Grenadian and his father was a Trinidadian from Serraneau Road, Belmont. From a very early age he realized that he could compose and sing calypsoes and would keep notes of the songs in a copy book. His work soon came to the attention of a friend who arranged for him to enter the Grenada Calypso competition in 1940 at the tender age of 12. His rendition was so good that he won this first competition and repeated this feat until 1947. Bomber also wrote for a friend Wilfred Baptiste known as Young Melody who was often second to him in these competitions. After 1947 he started to give his best calypsoes to Young Melody who began winning the Grenada Calypso Competition at Queens Park.
In 1956 Bomber migrated to Trinidad and was accommodated on Prince Street by another calypsonian, Theophelus Woods also known as Small Island Pride who was also from Grenada. He started entering calypso competitions in Trinidad the following year. In this year Bomber entered the Radio Trinidad Tenth Anniversary Calypso Competition and tasted victory in Trinidad for the first time. In 1958 he had a hit song called 'Gloria' that was resung by Harry Belafonte in 1962.
Mr and Mrs Ryan Photo: Christine
Bomber's migration to Trinidad, was motivated by two very important reasons: seeing his father's country and finding Jean, his girlfriend. Jean, also Grenadian, was brought to Trinidad by her godmother and never returned to Grenada. Having found out where she stayed, he immediately went to her place of residence and whistled to her. They met outside of her house and needless to say her godmother was quite displeased about their meeting. A few days later, he saw a familiar figure coming up Prince Street, where he lived. He peeked out of the window and whistled again. When she heard it, she indicated to him to wait. She turned onto Henry Street and in about three to four minutes she was back out and running toward him. She was 16 years old at the time and had gone to take lunch to her uncle. His words to her then were, "Here I am, this is where I live". Every day after that he would see Jean after she dropped her uncle's lunch.
The Mighty Bomber: His golden Years - CD
In 1960 Bomber was invited by the Mighty Sparrow to sing at the Original Young Brigade Tent. He also participated in the independence calypso competition in 1962 and placed 4th, though many people in the audience felt that he should have won the competition. In 1964 he created history when he defeated the Mighty Sparrow, winning the National Calypso King Competition in Trinidad with the songs 'Bomber's Dream' and 'James and Joan'. He went on to represent Trinidad and Tobago at the Commonwealth Festival of Arts in England the following year. He also represented Trinidad and Tobago at Randals Island, USA where he met Harry Belafonte. He became the stage manager at the Mighty Sparrow's Young Brigade Tent and held that position for 15 years.
In 1976 Bomber was granted a plot of land at Picton Hill by the then Prime Minister Dr Eric Williams in recognition of his contribution to the calypso art form. In 1981 the death of Dr Eric Williams saddened Bomber and he withdrew from the calypso world. During his absence from the calypso scene he became afflicted with cataracts and became blind but regained his eyesight after having surgery.
In 1988 Bomber accepted an invitation by the National Carnival Commission (NCC) to manage the New Wave Calypso Theatre. In 1990 with the encouragement of his family he returned to the calypso stage at the Review Tent singing a special song called the 'United States of the West Indies' and continued singing there until 2003. In recent years Bomber's calypso renditions have remained at a very high standard and he was chosen to participate in the Monarch finals at the age of 75 years making him possibly the oldest calypsonian to reach the Calypso Monarch finals. In 2004 he sang with Cro Cro's Icons Tent and is contracted to sing with this tent in 2005. After one of his recent performances at the Hotel Normandie a member of the audience remarked that the older Bomber gets the sweeter he sounds.
The Mighty Bomber Photo: Christine
Bomber notes the contrast between the early days in which calypsonians and pan players were looked down upon in some sectors of the society and today, where their contributions have been at least partially recognized, along with calypso music gaining wider acceptance internationally. However, the unscrupulous actions of some promoters who refuse to pay calypsonians after they have performed or who only provide partial payments, still continue to impede the advancement of calypso. Young artists that are yet to become firmly established on the calypso scene are most vulnerable to this type of exploitation.
The life and works of The Mighty Bomber highlight the immense contribution that persons in Trinidad and Tobago as well as other Caribbean islands have made to the development of the calypso art form. Calypsonians originally from other Caribbean islands include The Mighty Sparrow, Small Island Pride, Prince Galbar, Valentino, Mighty Jaguar, Big Tata, Zebra, Dictator, Jammo, Princess Monique, Lord Lester and Arrow. Though this contribution has largely been overlooked, Bomber still continues at the age of 76 to compose new material each year, write for many singers in the Caribbean, England and the USA, and carry out workshops teaching children the calypso art form. Many young calypsonians he nurtured went on to become prominent in the calypso arena. Highly respected within his community for these contributions, Bomber is a past president of the Northwest Laventille Cultural Group. Jean, his wife of many years has supported him throughout his musical career and today they are the proud grandparents of 23 grandchildren and five great grandchildren. There will be no end to the rich memories both Jean and Bomber have to share with them. His legacy is a reminder of the importance of developing one's talent and sharing it for the benefit of many.
Check out the Mighty Bomber's album at:
www.triniview.com/gallery/main.php?g2_itemId=148154
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