In commemoration of Jamaica’s 50th anniversary of Independence from Britain, the Jamaica Observer’s Entertainment section recognises 50 persons who made significant, yet unheralded, contributions to the country’s culture. This week we feature calypso singer Lord Creator.

JAMAICANS were pumped up for a big party in 1962 with the smell of independence from Britain in the air. Some of their brothers and sisters from the Eastern Caribbean were keen on joining them.

Among them was Kenrick Patrick, a calypsonian also known as Lord Creator.

In the weeks leading up to August 6 (independence day), Creator sat down with music producer Vincent ‘Randy’ Chin and journalist Raymond Sharpe at Chin’s east Kingston home, and fashioned Independent Jamaica, an ode to the biggest moment in the country’s history.

Independent Jamaica was Creator’s salute to Jamaica, the country he first visited in the late 1950s while he was building a reputation as one of Trinidad and Tobago’s star calypsonians.

Jamaicans were familiar with Creator through Evening News, one of his early hits. After Independent Jamaica hit, he stayed put in Jamaica and recorded hits for several producers, most notably Don’t Stay out Late for Chin, and Kingston Town which he did with producer Clancy Eccles.

Creator was on hard times in 1990 when British reggae band UB40 covered Kingston Town for their Labour of Love II album.

Their version was a big hit in France and revived the personal fortunes of Creator who had returned to Trinidad and Tobago after suffering two strokes.

Now 72, Lord Creator lives in Montego Bay.