Photo shows Norman Spann aka King Radio - first recorded Leggo winner 1932
During the early formative years of our carnival celebration in Trinidad and Tobago, there was no 'Road March' song. Instead, there was the "Leggo" song! The "Leggo" and "The Road March" both reference the same thing. The most popular song played 'on the road' for that particular carnival year. So why make a big deal of it and change the name? Maybe it had to do with the formation and control of Carnival of a newly formed committee.
Regarding our Leggo and Road March post, we divided the listing into three segments the early years from 1834 to 1931, the Leggo Years from 1932 to 1961, and the Road March years from 1962 to the present. This post took the songs from the years recorded as "Leggo Years" to help people who wondered about the term "Leggo".
Just like the Road March the "Leggo" was used in the early years to represent a 'breakaway song' where people would 'let go' on the streets and just have fun. Indeed, it was a very popular calypso that captured the imagination of the people and led to just about everyone being able to sing a verse from the song. The most popular song for that carnival.
The Leggo ensured that the masqueraders would 'let go' and appear to be 'out of control' as they celebrated the freedom of carnival. One must also keep in mind that Trinidad and Tobago had a Governor and it would not be until 1962 that the twin-island state gained its independence. Carnival time was used to 'let go' and just have a good time, parlance, protest in jest, or just go out and have fun. The "Leggo" juiced the celebration of those two glorious days.
In 1962 Trinidad and Tobago became an independent nation and with that, the name of the most popular song played 'on the street' aka"Leggo" was changed to "The Road March".
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The Leggo Years
1930's
1932 Norman Spann aka King Radio Tiger Tom Play Tiger Cat
1932 Norman Spann aka King Radio Tiger Tom Play Tiger Cat
1933 Norman Spann aka King Radio Wash Pan Wash
1934 Cletus Ali aka Dougla After Johnny Drink Me Rum
1935 Rafael Cairi Calls De Leon aka Roaring Lion Dingolay Oy
1936 Rafael Cairi Llama De Leon aka Roaring Lion Advantage Could Never Done
1937 Rafael Cairi Llama De Leon aka Roaring Lion Netty Netty
1938 Rafael Cairi Llama De Leon aka Roaring Lion No Norah Darling
1939 Norman Spann aka King Radio Mathilda
1940's
1940 Egbert Moore aka Beginner Run Yuh Run
1941 Rafael Cairi Calls De Leon aka Roaring Lion Whoopsin, Whoopsin
1942 No Carnival No Carnival
1943 No Carnival No Carnival
1944 No Carnival No Carnival
1945 No Carnival No Carnival
1946 Aldwyn Roberts aka Lord Kitchener - Jump In The Line or Chinese Never Had A VJ Day (Lai Fook Lee); information is confusing regarding which song actually won. Unofficial Road March!
1947 Andrew Bernard aka King Pharoah King Pharoah
1948 Fitzroy Alexander aka Lord Melody Canaan Barrow
1949 Victor Atwell aka Wonder Ramgoat Baptism
1950's
1950 Cephas Alexander aka Killer In a Calabash
1951 Fitzgerald Henry aka Terror Tiny Davis
1952 Carlton Gomes aka Spit Fire Post Post
1953 Carlton Gomes aka Spit Fire Bow Wow Wow
1954 Carlton Joseph aka Blakie Steel Band Clash
1955 German Composition made popular by BBC radio UK 1953/1954 Happy Wonderer (Valerie Valera)
1956 Slinger Francisco aka "The Mighty Sparrow" Jean and Dinah
1957 Carlton Gomes aka Spitfire PNM
1958 Slinger Francisco aka "The Mighty Sparrow" Pay As You Earn
1959 Caruso Run the Gunslingers
1960's
1960 Slinger Francisco aka "The Mighty Sparrow" Mae Mae
1961 Slinger Francisco aka "The Mighty Sparrow" Royal Jail
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