Dear Editor,
“Ladies and gentlemen, your next singer is Mr. Joseph Brunell Peters. But in the calypso world he goes by the name of Lord Defender.” Band chorus: 1-,2-,3-,4 … “Defender comin’, Ai ya Yai!”
Comrades, I was saddened when I heard that Lord Defender passed away on September 20, 2015, (one year ago) in Holland.
About two months ago his son (Mitchell Peters) told me about his father’s passing. Comrades, Lord Defender was a seasoned calypsonian – a tough contender. According to King Jacko (Steve McCauley), he used to be uneasy during the calypso finals when he had to contend with pros like Lord Defender, Mighty Controller, and Mighty Baker Sr.
Defender, as he was affectionately known, would go up on stage with a very serious facial expression, because his social commentary songs were always of a serious nature.
I can remember when he sang “Not Them Aliens.” Back in the late 1970s immigration officials would usually go on a rampage picking up “illegal people” when crime got a little out of control. Lord Defender was up on stage with a W.I. Newsday paper in his hand singing, “When you harass the illegal, Caribbean people, you’re disadvantaging your own.” In essence, he was telling the authorities not to harass the hard-working, Caribbean people.
Fellow calypsonian King Fernando used to heckle Defender about that song – all in fun. But I will say this about Lord Defender: though he was from Montserrat, he was an honourable Dutch citizen. He was a very community-minded person; he was very obliging.
With regard to calypso, he was a purist. He strongly believed in the art of rhyming; so he would frown with displeasure when he heard singers abandoning the rules. He and I would talk about calypso from time to time. Generally, he was an aficionado of music; he loved jazz. I always enjoyed talking about music (mostly calypso) with him. Lord Defender had a good sense of humour.
When he was not assigned as “Head Judge,” some calypsonians would seek his advice. As Head Judge, sometimes he was kind of controversial. Comrades, to err is human. Comrades, Lord Defender has left our world to be inducted into a “Higher World of Music” where King Fernando, the Mighty Cat, the Mighty Greg, the Mighty Stingray, Basta Roukoo, Tony Thewet, and all the other good fellows are. My condolences to his family, his friends, and his fellow calypsonians. R.I.P. Lord Defender.
Julien F. Petty
Writer’s note: Mr. Mitchell Peters (Lord Defender’s son) gave me his permission to write about his beloved father.
