Keith Dominic Raphael

🇹🇹 SOME INFORMATION ON THE CALYPSO/SOCA ARTIST K.D.
K.D.’s real name is Keith Dominic Raphael and he was born in Gasparillo in south Trinidad on 17th December 1954.
K.D. moved to Couva in Central Trinidad at age 10 to live with his sister Clo and her husband after his mother Alice Moore died. After displaying his musical ability he was given a gift of a guitar by his eldest brother Steve which he went on to master with lots of practice.
He won the Championship Guitar Solo at the 1976 T&T Music Festival and opened a successful music school in Couva in 1977.
He also won Scouting for Talent with the Walter’s School of Music group which he led in 1977.
Additionally K.D. also arranged for Hatters Steel Orchestra in San Fernando between 1977 and 1978.
He left Trinidad for New York in late 1978 after being unsuccessful in getting into any of the Calypso Tents he auditioned for.
K.D. won the US/New York Calypso Monarch title in 1980 after releasing a tune called “Freak Out” arranged by Clive Bradley.
He then went on to record his first album called “Five For The Road” during 1980 and also composed and recorded “Indian Party” that year which became a big hit for T&T Carnival 1981.
“Indian Party” was arranged and conducted by Art De Couteau and was recorded at K.H. Studios in Sea Lots, Trinidad in late 1980.
Click this link to take a listen to K.D.’s 1981 soca hit “Indian Party”:

Credit: Ian Socapro Henry

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