Biography
Born Raymond Quevedo on 24 March 1892 in Trinidad, the singer also died there on 22 February 1962. Bearing a name that recalled one of history’s most feared conquerors, this respected calypso artist first drew notice in the United States during the 1930s while performing with his colleague Roaring Lion, whose given name was Hubert Raphael Charles. Before the war, Atilla attracted attention through pointed songs on political topics such as ‘Women Will Rule The World’, ‘Roosevelt In Trinidad’ and ‘Mrs Simpson’. The provocative character of these works led to several being suppressed, an event that elicited his pointed reply, ‘The Banning Of Records’. Joining forces with fellow performers Growling Tiger and Lord Beginner (Egbert Moore) under the name Keskidee Trio, he produced the lighthearted numbers ‘Dingo Lay’ and ‘Don’t Let Your Mother Know’. After the war Atilla settled in Port of Spain and became involved in city politics. He died in 1962.
Albums