SMALL   ISLAND   PRIDE

REAL NAME: Theophilus Woods
DATE OF BIRTH: 1920s
PLACE OF BIRTH: Grenada
EDUCATION: ...
CAREER:                                     Born in Grenada, Woods settled in Trinidad where he went on to achieve fame as a calypsonian. He began his singing career in 1944 at the United Nations Tent, 71 Park Street, Port-of-Spain, but later moved over to the Victory Tent. He eventually joined the Young Brigade Tent where he continued singing through the 1950s. His most popular song was "Carnival Celebration" (1955) which will be remembered through the ages for its refrain "Mastifay, Mastifay." His other calypsoes include:
  • 1951 - Taxi Driver from Venezuela
  • 1952 - As Time Hard, I Going in for Farming
  • 1955 - Bacchanal in the Legislative Council
  • 1956 - Federation; Taxi Driver
  • Also - Mama Loves Mambo; Banner Roll; Mildred Don't Cry; Apple Vendor; Doggy in the Back Door; Calypso Cha Cha; Country Cirl; Bad Payment; Ah Kim; Going Down Jordan; Reply to Lord Invader's Small Island
DIED: September 1961 while touring Surinam.
Compiled by Ronald C. Emrit