In 1916 he started his career in earnest when he began working with the African Millionaires, a large carnival group consisting of about 25 members. He arrived in New York sometime around 1927, after working on cargo ships and travelling extensively. Not long after his arrival there, he began cutting records with local bands for Decca Records, notably Gerald Clark's Night Owls. He released well over a hundred different 78s between 1928 and 1940, also under the names of Fredrick Wilmoth Hendricks (his given name), Edgar Leon Sinclair (the name on his US passport), and King Houdini. His 1939 composition "He Had It Coming" was a hit for Louis Jordan and Ella Fitzgerald under the new title "Stone Cold Dead in the Market". The song stayed on the top of the R&B charts for five weeks, and reached no. 7 on the pop charts. Gaining a good deal of recognition, Houdini wasted no time in organizing high-profile calypso festivals and concerts around New York, quickly becoming a respected member of the Caribbean communities there.
After moving to New York (as one of the earliest Trinidadian émigrés), he was often the object of derision by the calypsonians still in Trinidad, who claimed that he was stealing their ideas and capitalizing on them in the USA. This can be seen in numerous calypsos of the early to mid-1930s, from Roaring Lion and Attila the Hun in particular, who also recorded in New York at the time. This led to Houdini's 1934 rebuttal, "Declaration of War". Towards the beginning of the 1950s he played regularly at the Caribbean Club on Seventh Avenue, New York, with his only real rival, The Duke of Iron, also a native of Trinidad.
Houdini died on August 6, 1977, in New York City, where he had lived for the majority of his life.
His song "Uncle Joe", although melodically not original, had a huge influence upon the American psyche, influencing Dizzy Gillespie, Ella Fitzgerald, Lord Mouse and the Kalypso Katz, Hazmat Modine, Bob Brozman, and C. W. Stoneking, to name but a few. He has inspired a newer generation of artists around the world, for example with his recording "Black But Sweet" covered by Mighty Dub Katz ("Son Of Wilmot"), Sabres of Paradise ("Wilmot"), Shantel ("Bucovina") and Eleftheria Arvanitaki ("Den milo ghia mia nychta ego").
Bobby Sox Idol
Wilmoth Houdini Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
Ah Frank Sinatra
Frankie me boy you don't know
You have a perfect voice to sing Calypso
What did dey say?
Ah Frankie Sinatra
Ah Frank Sinatra
You have a perfect voice to sing Calypso
Why not make a dish wit' de Houdini?
Singin' de West Indian melody
Frankie me boy I'm sure
We sell two million copies or more
Ah Frankie Sinatra
Ah Frank Sinatra
Frankie my boy you don't know
You have a perfect voice to sing Calypso
It can be Dickens or Bing Crosby
Bet me money on little Frankie
I know ye have the ability
To sing Calypso symphoniously
Ah Frankie Sinatra
Ah Frank Sinatra
Frankie my boy you don't know
You have a perfect voice to sing Calypso
You will be on the Caribbean moon
Frankie will sing, Houdini will croon
Then the Bobby Sox would know
I've made you the high priest of Calypso
Ah Frankie Sinatra
Ah Frank Sinatra
Frankie my boy you don't know
You have a perfect voice to sing Calypso
All West Indian will be bummed to say
When they have to serenade break of day
Frank Sinatra is getting old
Wilmoth Houdini is alone
Ah Frankie Sinatra
Ah Frank Sinatra
Frankie my boy you don't know
You have a perfect voice to sing Calypso
Do re mi so fa la ti do
Music is a thing, Frankie that you know
With your ability
Only leave the accent to Houdini
What a savior!
Ah Frankie Sinatra
Ah Frank Sinatra
Frankie my boy you don't know
You have a perfect voice to sing Calypso
Today in America
They talk about the Andrews Sisters
When they sing Rum and Coca Cola
But we bring them something now better
What a savior!
Ah Frankie Sinatra
Ah Frank Sinatra
Frankie my boy you don't know
You have a perfect voice to sing Calypso
The song "Bobby Sox Idol" by Wilmoth Houdini, is an interesting blend of Calypso and American music, with the singer praising Frank Sinatra for his vocal abilities while urging him to lend his voice to the tropical Caribbean music style. Houdini believes that Sinatra has a perfect voice for singing Calypso, and he imagines the two joining together to create a masterpiece that will sell millions of copies, making both of them even more successful. Houdini is convinced that Sinatra's voice is well suited for the West Indian melody and that he has the ability to create a Calypso symphony. He even goes on to suggest that Sinatra could be the high priest of Calypso.
Houdini emphasizes the importance of music regardless of where it comes from, and he recognizes Sinatra's understanding of this. Together, they could create a unique sound that their fans would love. Houdini reminds Sinatra that the West Indian people would be immensely grateful if he dedicated his voice to Calypso, as it would be a great recognition of the musical genre.
Overall, "Bobby Sox Idol" is a tribute to Frank Sinatra's vocal ability and the importance of music. Houdini's belief that Sinatra can create a beautiful symphony of Calypso with his voice and the profound impact it would have on the community is the main message of this song.
Line by Line Meaning
Ah Frankie Sinatra
Oh Frank Sinatra
Ah Frank Sinatra
Oh Frank Sinatra
Frankie me boy you don't know
Frank, my friend, you're unaware
You have a perfect voice to sing Calypso
Your singing voice is ideal for Calypso music
What did dey say?
What did they say?
Why not make a dish wit' de Houdini?
Why not collaborate with Houdini?
Singin' de West Indian melody
Singing the melody of the West Indies
Frankie me boy I'm sure
Frank, my friend, I'm certain
We sell two million copies or more
We'll sell two million copies or more
It can be Dickens or Bing Crosby
Whether it's Dickens or Bing Crosby
Bet me money on little Frankie
I'll bet my money on young Frankie
I know ye have the ability
I know you have the talent
To sing Calypso symphoniously
To sing Calypso with harmony
You will be on the Caribbean moon
You'll be a star of the Caribbean
Frankie will sing, Houdini will croon
Frankie will sing, Houdini will provide background vocals
Then the Bobby Sox would know
Then the young fans would know
I've made you the high priest of Calypso
I've made you the leader of Calypso music
All West Indian will be bummed to say
All West Indians will be disappointed to hear
When they have to serenade break of day
When they have to sing until daybreak
Frank Sinatra is getting old
Frank Sinatra is aging
Wilmoth Houdini is alone
Wilmoth Houdini is by himself
Do re mi so fa la ti do
Musical notes
Music is a thing, Frankie that you know
You know, Frank, that music is important
With your ability
With your talent
Only leave the accent to Houdini
Let Houdini handle the accent
What a savior!
What a great help!
Today in America
Currently, in America
They talk about the Andrews Sisters
People are discussing the Andrews Sisters
When they sing Rum and Coca Cola
When the Andrews Sisters sing Rum and Coca Cola
But we bring them something now better
But we're bringing something better now
What a savior!
What a great help!
Contributed by Nathan Y. Suggest a correction in the comments below.