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Guyanese Literature Junction
by Petamber Persaud
Form the opening bar of this locally produced song, ‘Christmas is with us again’, one is immediately drawn into the festive realm of a good Guyanese Christmas.
Christmas is with us again
Children with their sweet refrain
Merrily hear how they rhyme
Melodiously while church bells chime
Choirs sweet carols they sing
Oh what great tidings they bring
Hatred and fighting must cease
It’s now time for love and peace
This simple poem, eight rhyming lines with measured meters, performed with a soothingly melodious voice is a powerful evocation of Christmas.
That voice belongs to Malcolm Corrica aka ‘Destroyer’, aka ‘Lord Canary, aka ‘Mighty Lord Canary’. Canary, the bird, has a mellifluous whistle/song. But Corrica adapted the singing/stage name because the ‘Mighty Sparrow’ – ‘the Birdie’ was ruling the roost at the time.
There is another reason for the name change; Corrica’s previous stage name, ‘Destroyer’ almost destroyed his career on the outset.
Malcolm Corrica is better known as a calypsonian but he grew up in adoration of singers like Nat King Cole and Billy Eckstine.
When asked, during an interview on my television programme, ‘Oral Tradition’, how he composed that song, he replied that he had the tune in his head then he played with it for a while until he came up with the theme and the first line; the rest fell into place in due course including putting music to the lyrics.
The lyrics were arranged by Harry Whittaker and the song was recorded in Al Seales’s studio, GEMS, in Robb Street, Georgetown.
He recalls some other members of the band that did the recording including Art Brooms, Rector Schultz, and Charlie ‘Bongo’ Agard. Two of the backup singers were Rita Forrester and Zorina Ali.
‘Christmas is with us again’ recorded in the 1970s still thrills us today especially those of us who know that it was en toto a local production.
Responses to this author telephone (592) 226-0065 or email: oraltradition2002@yahoo.com
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