Introduction

The Early Years

Kenrick Des-Etages was born Kenrick Pitt sometime between then and now, in a small town in the South of Trinidad called, San Fernando.  He was raised by his mother and single parent, Thelma Des etages, with his two brothers, Calvin and Allistaire (Aka Wolly).  His musical influences while growing up were varied, encompassing Latin, Carribean and American artists and music.  He can remember at nine years of age practising his first instrument, the bongos, for hours every day to the sounds of young Latin musicians such Tito Puente, Noro Morales and Perez Prado. While in love with the complex rythms of Latin music, he was always open to new sounds and styles of music.  He recalls with excitement the first time he heard Elvis Presley sing "Heart Break Hotel".  His was a new and exciting style of singing, full of energy and accentuation.   He enjoyed sitting as a child with his mother, listening on the radio to American greats such as Mahalia Jackson, the Golden Gate Quartet and Louis Jordan.  One could not be Trinidadian and not also be raised on a heavy diet of  calypso.   He recalls listening to Trinidadian calypso icons such as the Mighty Spoiler, Lord Kitchener and Melody.  In his teens, he played percussion with a number of calypso bands, including the Cyrus Noel band and the Watsonians Orchestra, with Alvin Cardinal on drums.  His own musical style now melds all of these genres, creating a beautiful collage of often complex Caribbean and Latin rhythms, American soul, R&B and rock.

England Bound

In the 1950s, wishing to expand his horizons, my father began to consider a move to the United States.  The requirements, however, proved too onerous and so together with so many of his fellow British subjects, he moved to the United Kingdom, settling first in London.  Just before leaving for London, in honor of his mother he, and at his request, his brothers, adopted her surname, Des etages.  He had apprenticed as a precision welder in Trinidad and continued that trade after arriving in England, finding work as a welder with a company called Brown & Tawse, in Canning Town, London.  He began to frequent a local public house (pub) called the Montague Arms in New Cross Gate, where he was able to start making new friends.  The Montague Arms had a stage on which patrons would perform, either for pleasure as part of the pub's regular talent competitions, accompanied by the pub's in-house band.  On one occasion, a stranger approached my father and asked for his name, writing it quickly on a piece of paper.  The next thing he knew, he was invited onto the stage to perform.  He sang Blue Moon and Hound Dog.  His recollection is that he brought the house down.  That first performance was the beginning of an illustrious musical career in England.  Soon after, he joined a rock band with a few of the patrons from the Montague Arms, playing covers by artists such as Eddie Cochran, Elvis, Buddy Holly and The Crickets.  Over the next few years, he entered and won many local talent contests and in the process honed his vocal skills.

Get Into What You're In - The 70s

The 1970s, like the 60s, was a busy time for my father.  He was regularly in the studio, working as a session musician either playing percussion or singing as a backing singer.  He was also writing a great deal and always looking for opportunities to progress his career.  Through his session work he met many artists that he would go on to collaborate with including an aspiring musical arranger, producer and songwriter from India called Biddu Appaiah (also known simply as Biddu).  Biddu and my father became friends and collaborated for many years on a number of projects.  In 1973, Biddu established his own production company to which he signed a number of artists, including my father.  The first commercially successful artist signed to Biddu's production company was Carl Douglas who in 1974 released his smash hit “Kung Fu Fighting”.  Biddu and my father sang backing vocals on the record and appeared together with Carl Douglas on a number television shows in the UK and in Europe.  Carl Douglas also recorded three of my father’s songs, “I Don’t Care What the People Say” (Biddu-Vanderbilt), “Stand Up For Love” and “Never Had This Dream Before”, all three of which appeared on his “Kung Fu Fighter” Album in 1974.  In 1976, my father introduced his friend Tina Charles to Biddu, who Biddu signed and for whom he produced a number of worldwide hits including a single released in 1976 called “I Love to Love”.  The B-side of that single was a song written by my father called “Disco Fever”.  Tina also recorded my father’s song “All Comes Back to You” on her 1976 Album “Dance Little Lady”.    The veteran Jamaican born singer Jimmy James also signed to Biddu’s production company.  Jimmy James recorded a number of my father's songs, “Disco Fever”, “Never had this Dream Before”, "Let's have Fun", "Suspicious Love" (Biddu/Vandebilt") and a fun song called “If You Think that Funk is Junk Your Drunk”.  Biddu also had success with his own group known as the Biddu Orchestra.  The Biddu Orchestra comprised a group of session musicians with whom Biddu and my father had worked for many years.  He recorded two songs with the Orchestra written by my father, “Funky Tropical” (which appeared both on his album "Eastern Man" and which he released as a single in 1977) and “Jump for Joy”.  My father joined Biddu and "Bones" on backing vocals on "Eastern Man" and the Biddu Orchestra's "Futuristic Journey".  At around the same time, my father also worked as a backing singer with another well known artist.  Elkie Brooks, who had a number of hits in the 70s including "Pearls a Singer" and "Fool if You Think It's Over".  He recalls performing backing vocals for Elkie Brooks together with Jimmy Chambers and George Chandler (who went on to work with Paul Young and eventually form the highly succesful group "London Beat" with Jimmy Helms and multi instrumentalist, William Henshall (Willi M)) at a performance at London's famous "Ronnie Scotts Jazz Club".  Elkie was so popular she broke the attendance record for the club.  In 1977, my father also released his own Album on RCA Records, "Get Into What You're In".  The Album was produced by Biddu and included a number of songs written by my father that were subsequently recorded by the Biddu Orchestra and by Jimmy James.  The Album is very eclectic, reflecting all of his musical influences from straight funk numbers like "Funky Tropical" and "Ju Ju Lady"; Caribbeanesque rhythms such as "What a Way" and "Sweet Ices" and soulful love songs like "Stand Up for Love" and "Coral Isle".  The Album achieved more critical acclaim than commercial success and it has stood the test of time, still exciting listeners today. 

The 70s - Lee Vanderbilt

Get Into What You're In (The LP)