Sam Manning was one of the earliest calypsonians who achieved international… Read Full Bio ↴Sam Manning was one of the earliest calypsonians who achieved international acclaim. He was born around 1899 in Trinidad and died in 1960 while traveling in Africa.
Manning served in the British West Indies Regiment in France and the Middle East during World War I. In the early 1920s, he moved to New York, where he recorded music that combined jazz and calypso rhythms. His song "Lieutenant Julian" commemorated the 1929 transatlantic flight by Trinidadian Hubert Fauntleroy Julian. In 1934, he moved to England, where he gave performances in London.
His companion was Amy Ashwood Garvey, Marcus Garvey's first wife. She produced Brown Sugar, a jazz musical production at the Lafayette Theatre, which featured Manning and Fats Waller and his band. She and Manning opened the Florence Mills Social Club in London's Carnaby Street, which quickly became a gathering spot for the city's black intellectuals.
Manning returned to New York in 1941. That same year, he produced the only known calypso "soundies". film clips made for film jukeboxes located in restaurants and bars. They featured Manning and his ensemble, and Trinidadian dance legend Beryl McBurnie. In 1947, Manning wrote and directed Caribbean Carnival, a Broadway show produced by Adolph Thenstead, which was billed as the "First Calypso Musical Ever Presented". It was a lavish production, featuring 50 singers and dancers, among them New York-based calypsonian, the Duke of Iron, Trinidadian dancer, Pearl Primus, and Manning himself. Manning and Thenstead also founded a record company, Cyclone.
Manning served in the British West Indies Regiment in France and the Middle East during World War I. In the early 1920s, he moved to New York, where he recorded music that combined jazz and calypso rhythms. His song "Lieutenant Julian" commemorated the 1929 transatlantic flight by Trinidadian Hubert Fauntleroy Julian. In 1934, he moved to England, where he gave performances in London.
His companion was Amy Ashwood Garvey, Marcus Garvey's first wife. She produced Brown Sugar, a jazz musical production at the Lafayette Theatre, which featured Manning and Fats Waller and his band. She and Manning opened the Florence Mills Social Club in London's Carnaby Street, which quickly became a gathering spot for the city's black intellectuals.
Manning returned to New York in 1941. That same year, he produced the only known calypso "soundies". film clips made for film jukeboxes located in restaurants and bars. They featured Manning and his ensemble, and Trinidadian dance legend Beryl McBurnie. In 1947, Manning wrote and directed Caribbean Carnival, a Broadway show produced by Adolph Thenstead, which was billed as the "First Calypso Musical Ever Presented". It was a lavish production, featuring 50 singers and dancers, among them New York-based calypsonian, the Duke of Iron, Trinidadian dancer, Pearl Primus, and Manning himself. Manning and Thenstead also founded a record company, Cyclone.
Theodor
Sam Manning Lyrics
We have lyrics for 'Theodor' by these artists:
Képzelt Város Haladok, de éppen megáll a táj. Remegve kiáltom, hogy…
Soukie & Windish VIctor Nimekam na moto–oh Moto moto–oh (Dj Venji) Dance to …
Ted Fresco Bass down low, low get low…
The lyrics are frequently found in the comments by searching or by filtering for lyric videos
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TheRealDJGIBS
Hi Barry, yes, aside from digging up rare 78s, you can purchase most of Sam Manning's recordings from Jazz Oracle Records (Toronto). They have published two compilation CDs BDW8028 (Sam Manning Vol. 1, 1924-27) and BDW8029 (Sam Manning Vol. 2, 1927-30) of Sam's works. This particular version of 'Lignum Vitae' can be found on the 2nd CD. If you go to the jazzoracle website, you can find how to purchase them and they also list what 78 each recording is from as well as the musicians and session dates.
As for mento music in general, most of the recordings available on CD/online are from the "golden age of mento" (1951 - 1959). Before that time, aside from the 20's "mentor" records from the US, most mento music could only be heard live, especially in Jamaica. Sadly, the islands most popular artists from 1929 to 1939, "Slim and Sam", did not make a single recording.
If you're looking for some good Mento compilation albums, I suggest;
- The Best of Jamaican Mento
- Early Jamaican Music - The Best of Mento & Calypso
- Mento, Not Calypso! - The Original Sound Of Jamaica
- Jamaica Mento 1951 - 1958
castor3331
Aahh, beautiful transfers as always. Digital archive, indeed. Thanks!
Nigel Barrett
He died in 1960 -this recording compares well with the 1925-29 2 cd set which had very good notes and recording details.
Very few folks alive who,d remember him at his vocal best pre 1940 in 2019.
TheRealDJGIBS
Thanks man, its a beauty of a 78!
TheRealDJGIBS
Respect sir Motta!!!
Baba Motta, the pianist, band leader and vocalist is probably best known for his hit song "She 'Pon Top". Before recording for Stanley Motta (apparently of no relation), Baba played piano along side Sonny Bradshaw, Tommy McCook and others in the 'All-Stars Big Band' from 1947 - 1949, which would eventually be known as the Jamaica Big Band.
Any idea if Baba was a student at the Alpha Boys' School??? Seems many of Jamaica's best musicians are Alpha alumni.
Roberto Moore
No, Alfred Baba Motta was not an Alpharian
TheRealDJGIBS
Hi Barry, yes, aside from digging up rare 78s, you can purchase most of Sam Manning's recordings from Jazz Oracle Records (Toronto). They have published two compilation CDs BDW8028 (Sam Manning Vol. 1, 1924-27) and BDW8029 (Sam Manning Vol. 2, 1927-30) of Sam's works. This particular version of 'Lignum Vitae' can be found on the 2nd CD. If you go to the jazzoracle website, you can find how to purchase them and they also list what 78 each recording is from as well as the musicians and session dates.
As for mento music in general, most of the recordings available on CD/online are from the "golden age of mento" (1951 - 1959). Before that time, aside from the 20's "mentor" records from the US, most mento music could only be heard live, especially in Jamaica. Sadly, the islands most popular artists from 1929 to 1939, "Slim and Sam", did not make a single recording.
If you're looking for some good Mento compilation albums, I suggest;
- The Best of Jamaican Mento
- Early Jamaican Music - The Best of Mento & Calypso
- Mento, Not Calypso! - The Original Sound Of Jamaica
- Jamaica Mento 1951 - 1958
Bob Jones
Also Boogu Yaaga Ga cd, Mento Madness cd, Chin's reissue via cdbaby of 7 cds worth of material downloads per track or for sale each cd, Trojan Box set, there's more being re-issued, not before time, a great heritage.
I think you are getting Slim and Slam mixed up with Bim and Bam, Jamaican comedians, as opposed to Slim Gaillard who was undoubtedly popular in JA. There is stuff on Youtube of them, but not the single I gave away..
TheRealDJGIBS
Thanks! Sam Manning 78s are hard to come by nevermind in this condition! The Lignum Vitae ("tree of life") is Jamaica's Nation Flower but I think the young gal craze for the Lignum Vitea is thanks to the strength of its wood and its medicinal use (supposedly as a natural contraceptive). A bit of a double innuendo... What I don't get is when and how this song became "Mama LOOK Tea". Is it just my ears or is it not, "Trinidadians talk about tea. Mama love tea, papa love tea".
Axel Natural
BIG CALYPSO STYLE!!!!
Bob Jones
Great, many thanks.