The dog is back — with a professionally designed logo. We’ll mark the occasion by considering the musical legacy of Louis Eugene Walcott, a calypso singer of the 1950’s who was known as “The Charmer” or “Calypso Gene.”
The most interesting of Walcott’s songs is probably this one about Christine Jorgensen, the first American to undergo sex reassignment surgery. While offensive by contemporary standards, it endures as a historical curiosity.
In 1955, Walcott abandoned his career as a musician. But five years later, he released a new record that was played from loudspeakers and sold at rallies in Harlem. It illustrates a dramatic change in his world view and preoccupations. Here is an excerpt:
Louis Farrakhan. For decades, he has served as leader of the African-American Muslim group, the Nation of Islam. Although he would dispute the characterization, he is also widely viewed as one of the country’s most prominent antisemites. But whatever else may be said of him, throughout his long and controversial life, he has never lost his love of the violin.
Wonder if Walcott plays this song at the start of his rallies to warm up the crowd?
Nice logo. And good post. I didn’t know Farrakhan liked cantor music
I like the new logo. Farrakhan should be booked for Bar Mitzvahs.