Brother Valentino used his music to challenge the status quo, confront injustice and give a voice to the voiceless.
As family, friends and fellow calypsonians gathered to bid him farewell at the Cathedral of the Immaculate Conception on Thursday, his songs served as a reminder of the legacy left behind by The People’s Calypsonian.
To Trinidad and Tobago, the region and the world, he was known as Brother Valentino. To the calypso fraternity, he was The People’s Calypsonian. But to his family, he was Anthony Emrold Phillip, a beloved father, grandfather, son and more.
His daughter, Janelle Emrold Phillip, recalled the humble beginnings of the man whose voice would become synonymous with socially conscious calypso.
“He went to audition at Kitchener’s Tent on Richmond Street with no name at all. The whole tent laughed. Then the Grandmaster said, ‘Your name is Valentino’. He poured a glass of rum, called Carmen Jones over his head, and that was his christening. Daddy would laugh every time he told that one.”
Born in Grenada in 1941, he came to Trinidad as a young child, where his first encounter with pan helped shape a lifelong love for music. That passion would grow into a career defined not just by melody, but by a willingness to speak for the voiceless and challenge injustice.
Though he never captured the National Calypso Monarch crown, his daughter said the recognition he valued most came from the people whose stories he told.
“Daddy never won the National Calypso Monarch crown and that still doesn’t sit well with many. He would tell you himself that the name the people gave him, The People’s Calypsonian, meant more than any crown. He won the hearts of the people, but the people also won his heart.”
Brother Valentino’s contribution to the art form and to the nation did not go unnoticed. Over the years, he received several national and cultural honours, reflecting a legacy that extended far beyond the calypso stage.
“Some of these honours included the Veteran’s Monarch in 2005, the Sunshine Awards Hall of Fame in 2009, the Hummingbird Medal, Silver in 1992, the Gold in 2012, and most recently, an Honorary Doctorate that was to be awarded next month.”
Brother Valentino’s final send-off at the Cathedral of the Immaculate Conception on Independence Square was marked by the voices of those who knew him as a friend, colleague and family member, with his song “Life Is a Stage” serving as a fitting tribute to a life dedicated to calypso.