15 Facts About David Rudder

The Honourable David Michael Rudder OCC was born on 6 May 1953 and is a Trinidadian calypsonian, known to be one of the most successful calypsonians of all time.

David Rudder performed as lead singer for the brass band Charlie's Roots.

Nine years later, Rudder stepped outside the band, entering the calypso tent as a solo calypsonian in 1986, which was followed by an unprecedented rise to fame.

David Rudder began singing with a calypso band at the age of 11.

In 1977, David Rudder joined Charlie's Roots, a leading band in Trinidad and Tobago, which launched with help and sponsorship from New York-based record producer Rawlson Charles.

David Rudder spent many years as one of the band's vocalists.

In 1988 David Rudder released what is widely considered his best album to date, Haiti, which included the title track, a tribute to the glory and suffering of Haiti; "Engine Room", which captured the energy of the steel band; and "Rally 'Round the West Indies", which became the anthem of West Indies cricket.

In 2008, David Rudder did a soca collaboration with fellow Trinidadian Machel Montano, "Oil and Music" on Machel's 2007 album Flame On.

In 2011, David Rudder performed a soca collaboration called "Glow" with Barbados' "Queen of Soca" Alison Hinds.

David Rudder has released more than 30 albums and has performed in venues across the Caribbean, Europe, North and South America, Asia, and Africa.

David Rudder would continue to write new material and give smaller concerts, but would cease exhausting performances after his 70th birthday.

David Rudder was awarded, in 1992, with a Hummingbird Silver Medal by the Government of Trinidad and Tobago.

David Rudder was later appointed, in 1996, as a Goodwill Ambassador to the United Nations Development Programme.

On 2 May 2018, David Rudder was bestowed with the keys to the city of Port of Spain.

On 3 July 2022, David Rudder was conferred with the Order of the Caribbean Community.