Lord Melody; He Was a Pioneer of Calypso Music

Lord Melody, one of the pioneers of calypso music and a former composer and arranger for singer Harry Belafonte, has died at the age of 63.

Lord Melody, born Fitzroy Alexander, died Monday in Port of Spain General Hospital after a yearlong battle with cancer, a city mortuary official said.

Lord Melody was one of the earliest professional exponents of calypso, the lilting, syncopated musical style indigenous to Trinidad. He first appeared on a calypso stage 42 years ago, said local impresario Holy Betaudier.

Lord Melody often used his songs to make social commentaries and was known for his spicy ballads.

His wife, Winifred Alexander, said her husband met Belafonte in 1965 in New York and worked with him until 1977.

She said Belafonte had recorded one of her husband’s songs, “Mama, Look, A Boo Boo Dey,” but had never met the composer until seeing him on a New York City street one day.

She said Lord Melody introduced himself to the surprised Belafonte, and the two began a collaboration that spawned such songs as “Olga,” “New York Taxi,” “Evolution of Man” and “Sweetheart from Venezuela.”