Guests of Rudy Vallee (Lion & Atilla) 1934

Roaring Lion Calypso Foundation: roaringlioncaly...
Eighty years ago in March 1934, Eduardo Sa Gomes the Trinidad agent for Brunswick Records sent Lion and Atilla the Hun to record calypsos in New York City. This event was one of the defining moments in calypso history. While Belasco, Houdini and others had recorded calypsos abroad before, this was the first time that locally based calypsonians traveled to New York "on contract" to record.
Atilla & Lion's recording session was successful and proved to be the start of a 10 year annual flow of calypsonians to the US. By 1940 Lord Executer, Growling Tiger, Mighty Destroyer, Lord Caresser, Growling Growler, Lord Invader and Lord Beginner had all recorded with Decca. This relationship with Decca came to an end in 1941 because of the war.
While in New York City(1934), Lion and Atilla also appeared on the Rudy Vallee's Fleishman's Variety Hour radio show on WEAF on March 8th 1934 that was heard, though just barely and with great static, on shortwave in Trinidad.
The singers also appeared as part of the floor show at Vallee's Hollywood Cafe on Broadway in Manhattan and performed for President Roosevelt at a charity function at the Waldorf Astoria.
- Ray Funk
Credit given to www.roaringlioncalypso.org for use of Lion's photographs.
All other Images appearing in this video are copyrighted to its respectful owners
Song copyrights Atilla & Roarig Lion
Roaring Lion Calypso Foundation: roaringlioncaly...