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Lord Mike's Dirty Calypsonians

The seeds of Lord Mike’s Dirty Calypsonias were planted years ago within the ska/reggae scene of Chicago. As the legendary singer of Deal’s Gone Bad, Mike toured endlessly across America and recorded three full length albums for JUMP UP Records. Mike retired from Deal’s Gone Bad in late 2003, being replaced by Todd Hembrook (formerly of Heavy Step). At this time, Mike’s calypso calling had 
not surfaced yet…but a few months later it came suddenly in the dark of the night! A vision! Was it an apparition of the Mighty Sparrow himself? Could it have been the voice of Lord Kitchener? We will never know exactly what occurred in the deep of sleep that night! That next morning, as the newly christened “Lord Mike”, the Dirty Calypso vision began to spring into action. Recruiting an all star Chicago lineup including several former Deal’s Gone Bad members, Lord Mike’s Dirty Calypsonians played their first
show July 2004 for JUMP UP’s 10th Anniversary SKA THROWDOWN festival. It was an immediate success! Word spread across the world quickly, notching up high profile appearances at the REAL JAMAICA SKA FEST in Chicago and the SKA WEEKEND Festival in Tennessee – both times stealing the show! In less than 2 short years, this massive 12 piece band has electrified the Caribbean music scene like no other band has in years. If you haven’t seen the live show, do yourself a favor and get to one! Demand to see this band! It’s quite a sight – musicians dressed in warrior face paint, Trinidad clad “carmen” dancing
girls, and a slick set drawing inspiration from Calypso greats like Mighty Sparrow and Lord Kitchener, full of fun dirty innuendo. You won’t be able to resist the conga line. And why should you??!?! - Jump Up Records

By Kyle Larson