Hayden Desiree (20 June 1934 – 12 April 2015), better known as Lord Tokyo (and sometimes as Doctor Tokes),Lord Tokyo Dies
, ''The Sun'' (Dominica), 13 April 2015. Retrieved 2 May 2016 was one of the most prominent Dominiquais calypsonians. He was the first solo artist to release a Dominiquais-produced record, won the island's Calypso King title, and wrote a winner of the Road March contest.

Career

Born in Loubiere in 1934, Tokyo worked as a taxi driver before finding success as a calypsonian.OBITUARY: Hayden “Lord Tokyo” Desiree
, dominicanewsinline.com, 22 April 2015. Retrieved 2 May 2016 He married Clemencia Desabaye on 26 May 1962. Tokyo won Grandbay South Monarch crowns in 1965 and 1966, and in 1966 won the national Calypso Monarch title with "To Hell with the Judges" and "Dr. Tokes". He made history in 1967 when, shortly after the debut release by the Swingin' Stars Orchestra, he became the first solo artist on the island to release a locally-made record with the single "De Man Doing de Pumpin'".Thompson, Dave (2002) ''Reggae & Caribbean Music'', Backbeat Books, , p. 155 In 1969 he won the Calypso King of Dominica title, and the following year his composition "Tennis Shoe Scandal" won the Road March. In the early 1970s he began a collaboration with

Trinidad Trinidad is the larger and more populous of the two major islands of Trinidad and Tobago. The island lies off the northeastern coast of Venezuela and sits on the continental shelf of South America. It is often referred to as the southernmos ...

ian Lord Shorty and lyricist Chris Seraphine, combining calypso, cadence, and Creole patois to give the music a new flavour. Their partnership produced the hit "Ou Dee Moin Ou Petit Shorty", and their innovation led to the development of soca.Henry, Steinberg (2011) ''An Unassuming Love: Black Memory, A Traveloguer, and Cricket'', , p. 20 Tokyo spent much of his career in the US (where he also worked as a security guard), Canada, and the UK, recording his debut album in the latter in 1978. He became good friends with

Mighty Sparrow Slinger Francisco ORTT CM OBE (born July 9, 1935), better known as Mighty Sparrow, is a Trinidadian calypso vocalist, songwriter, and guitarist. Known as the "Calypso King of the World", he is one of the best-known and most successful caly ...

and went on to work with Sparrow's band in the 1997, recording a new version of his Road March winner "Tennis Shoe Scandal", following it with the album ''Merry Christmas and a Happy New Year to All'' in 1998. ''De Pumping Man'' followed in 2000, featuring a guest appearance from Sparrow on the title track. He died in New York on 12 April 2015, aged 80, after suffering a

heart attack A myocardial infarction (MI), commonly known as a heart attack, occurs when blood flow decreases or stops to the coronary artery of the heart, causing damage to the heart muscle. The most common symptom is chest pain or discomfort which ma ...

. He was survived by 11 children, 28 grandchildren and 11 great grandchildren.

Discography

*'' Lord Tokyo Sings To The Nightengale: Calypso Harmonies'' (1978), Caribana *''Merry Christmas and a Happy New Year to All'' (1998) *''De Pumping Man'' (2000)

References

{{DEFAULTSORT:Tokyo, Lord 1934 births 2015 deaths 20th-century Dominica male singers Calypsonians