USVI Calypso Luminaire: The Great John-L.                                                                          

Richie Rockland. July 29, 2007.
©SUNWORKS MEDIA

John Lloyd Nichols popularly known as ‘John L’, hailed “The Great John-L” in the calypso world, was born December 17th, 1930 in Kitty, Guyana. He emigrated to St. Croix in 1958 taking up work around the U.S Virgin island as a self employed sign-painter.

Preparing for a position in government, he took up studies at a London university where he became disillusioned, and conjured up misgivings about fellow British-trained natives “trying to out-British the Englishman”,  upon their newfound sense of nationalism at gaining the Crown Empire’s independence.

In 1968 upon his return to St. Croix he set up his own store JohnL Enterprises at the Pan Am Pavillion in the capital, Christianstead. There  selling craft & cultural items to tourists, which incorporated his own record label Virtu Records, through which his four Lps and a handful of 45rpm singles were issued.  His albums included “Calypso In Exile, 1969”,  “Here In The Virgin Islands, 1970”,  “Stay Up!, 1974” and “Press On, 1977”. Of these, two were recorded in Trinidad by prominent engineer of the day Max Serrao with recognized classic backing & arrangement  by the prolific Trinidad bandsman Arthur De Cotteau.

Being a somewhat radical exponent of calypso in the V.I’s, JohnL popularity was not without criticism. In an article dated October 2nd, 1969,  following the previovs night’s gig at the Folklore Centre  at 321 Americas Avenue, NY, columnist John S Wilson’s biting critical observation read, “he had the engaging manner that one expects of the calypsonians but was a little openly differential to his audience, pointing out for their benefit, that he was singing slowly and refraining from the use of caribbean vernacular.” He continues,  “.. this was in keeping with the bland tone of many of his songs and little real bite in his lyrics”,  although slightly more favourably commenting, “they frequently had  flashes of wit, especially during his final round of improvisations, in which he discussed members of the audience.”

John-L became a well known staunch proponent in calypso circles. He was outspokenly critical of the pop cultured  folk-Lypso  forms ala Harry Bellafonte, “so you wont hear me sing Day-O” he declared. He despised the ‘calypso singer’ approach peddling touristic watered-down repetitious renditions of old songs. A pioneering exponent of the art form, he used his knowledge in original compositions to educate delegates and government officials on the evolution and purpose of calypso, handing out free copies at gigs and cultural functions, such as his 1968 song “The Origin of Calypso”.

Collaborative producer and radio DJ George ‘Bagoon’ O’Reiley remembers “in public JohnL would come across as a humble musician eh, but in private mister was just hard man!  The hardest, mind you, most talented man I ever had the pleasure of working with eh..”  Accomplished calypsonian, folk enthusiast and protégé to JohnL,  Camille “King Derby” Macedon, to whom we express sincere gratitude for some of the information in this article,  remembers him as a very secretive man who never spoke much of his private life.  Nevertheless was a relentless perfectionist from whom he learnt many important aspects of song composition.  “Bagga”,  a steelpan tuner/maker, we are informed, knew JohnL very well, however we are as yet to make contact with.

By 1982, recovering from recent ravages of hurricanes across the caribbean,  JohnL had recorded four triumphant albums.  Aged 53, a life which would be sadly cut short in hospital on 8th February 1984 by eventual kidney failure, following a sustained period of illness.  Divorcee JohnL was survived by daughter Patricia Nichols in Antigua and common-law partner,  and is buried at the Cyril King cemetery at Kingshill, Christianstead, St. Croix.


Richie Rockland
London,  July29,  2007. 
©SUNWORKS MEDIA