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LORD   CHRISTO

REAL NAME: Christopher Laidlow
DATE OF BIRTH: 1916
PLACE OF BIRTH: Port-of-Spain, Trinidad
EDUCATION: Picadilly Street EC School
CAREER:                                      Christo made a living as a cabinet-maker and sang in church choirs before he became the lead singer for the John "Buddy" Williams Band in the 1940s. His calypso career began in 1952 when he appeared at Atilla the Hun's Victory Tent. He then joined the McLean Brothers and accompanied them on a tour of the USA in December 1952. He later moved over to the Young Brigade Tent in 1955. The Young Brigade Tent became the Original Young Brigade Tent (OYB) in 1956, and Christo continued to sing with the OYB until he left for Chicago, Ilinois, USA, where he appeared at various nightclubs and on television. He returned to Trinidad in 1960 and continued to sing at the OYB for the rest of his career. Although he never won a title, Christo's popular songs "Miss Universe" and "Chicken Chest" were tailor-made for steelbands and were played extensively on the road during the 1957 Carnival. His other calypsoes include:
  • 1955 - Humorous Englishmen
  • 1956 - Elephant Traffic Jam; The Girls Who Go to the Barber
  • 1957 - Chicken Chest; Miss Universe
  • 1958 - Shakespearean Quotations
  • 1960 - Jonathan
  • 1961 - Election; Whip Them PNM, Whip Them
  • 1962 - The Dumb Boy and the Parrot
  • 1965 - No Nationality; Calypso Beatle Man; Walking Race; Sweet Trinidad; Molly and Me; Adopting Children; Tribute to Churchill
  • Also - Mock Democracy; Don't Hang Yuh Hat
DIED: 1984
Compiled by Ronald C. Emrit