Artist Info: Jules Sims

Jules SIms from Trinidad was one of the leading figures in popularizing Calypso music. In September 1914 the technicians of the Victor company went to Trinidad to record live music on the streets. So Jules Sims was one of the first to be recorded live.

Before the music was Europeanized, “civilized”, commercialized, there were griots. Before all the contemporary twists on this artform, there was kaiso, and chantuelle. Work songs, fight songs, religious and ceremonial songs contributed to the original “calypsos. [read more...]