Lord Tokyo

{{Use dmy dates|date=May 2016}} {{Infobox musical artist | honorific_prefix = | name = Lord Tokyo | honorific_suffix = | image = | image_size = | landscape =  | alt = | caption = | native_name = | native_name_lang = | birth_name = Hayden Desiree | alias = | birth_date = {{birth date|df=y|1934|06|20}} | birth_place = Loubiere, Dominica | origin = | death_date = {{death date and age|df=y|2015|04|12|1934|06|20}} | death_place = New York, United States | genre = Calypso | occupation = Calypsonian | instrument = | years_active = 1960s–2015 | label = | website =  | module = | module2 = | module3 = }} '''Hayden Desiree''' (20 June 1934 – 12 April 2015), better known as '''Lord Tokyo''' (named after the capital city of Japan), (and sometimes as '''Doctor Tokes'''),<ref name="Sun">"[http://sundominica.com/articles/lord-tokyo-dies-2294/ Lord Tokyo Dies]", ''The Sun'' (Dominica), 13 April 2015. Retrieved 2 May 2016</ref> 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.<ref name="Dom">"[http://dominicanewsonline.com/news/homepage/news/human-interest/obituary-hayden-lord-tokyo-desiree/ OBITUARY: Hayden “Lord Tokyo” Desiree]", dominicanewsinline.com, 22 April 2015. Retrieved 2 May 2016</ref> He married Clemencia Desabaye on 26 May 1962.<ref name="Dom" />

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".<ref name="Sun" /> 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'".<ref name="Thompson">Thompson, Dave (2002) ''Reggae & Caribbean Music'', Backbeat Books, {{ISBN|0-87930-655-6}}, p. 155</ref>

In 1969 he won the Calypso King of Dominica title, and the following year his composition "Tennis Shoe Scandal" won the Road March.<ref name="Sun" /><ref name="Dom" /><ref name="Thompson" /> In the early 1970s he began a collaboration with Trinidadian Lord Shorty and lyricist Chris Seraphine, combining calypso, cadence, and Creole patois to give the music a new flavour.<ref name="Thompson" /> Their partnership produced the hit "Ou Dee Moin Ou Petit Shorty", and their innovation led to the development of soca.<ref name="Sun" /><ref name="Thompson" /><ref name="Henry">Henry, Steinberg (2011) ''An Unassuming Love: Black Memory, A Traveloguer, and Cricket'', {{ISBN|978-1462883967}}, p. 20</ref>

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.<ref name="Thompson" /> He became good friends with Mighty Sparrow 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.<ref name="Thompson" /> ''De Pumping Man'' followed in 2000, featuring a guest appearance from Sparrow on the title track.<ref name="Thompson" />

He died in New York on 12 April 2015, aged 80, after suffering a heart attack.<ref name="Sun" /> He was survived by 11 children, 28 grandchildren and 11 great grandchildren.<ref name="Dom" />

==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== {{Reflist}}

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