Age, Biography and Wiki

Lord Pretender (Aldric Farrell) was born on 8 September, 1917 in Tobago, is a Trinidadian musician. Discover Lord Pretender's Biography, Age, Height, Physical Stats, Dating/Affairs, Family and career updates. Learn How rich is he in this year and how he spends money? Also learn how he earned most of networth at the age of 85 years old?

Popular As Aldric Farrell
Occupation N/A
Age 85 years old
Zodiac Sign Virgo
Born 8 September, 1917
Birthday 8 September
Birthplace Tobago
Date of death 2002
Died Place N/A
Nationality

We recommend you to check the complete list of Famous People born on 8 September. He is a member of famous artist with the age 85 years old group.

Lord Pretender Height, Weight & Measurements

At 85 years old, Lord Pretender height not available right now. We will update Lord Pretender's Height, weight, Body Measurements, Eye Color, Hair Color, Shoe & Dress size soon as possible.

Physical Status
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Dating & Relationship status

He is currently single. He is not dating anyone. We don't have much information about He's past relationship and any previous engaged. According to our Database, He has no children.

Family
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Wife Not Available
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Lord Pretender Net Worth

His net worth has been growing significantly in 2023-2024. So, how much is Lord Pretender worth at the age of 85 years old? Lord Pretender’s income source is mostly from being a successful artist. He is from . We have estimated Lord Pretender's net worth, money, salary, income, and assets.

Net Worth in 2024 $1 Million - $5 Million
Salary in 2024 Under Review
Net Worth in 2023 Pending
Salary in 2023 Under Review
House Not Available
Cars Not Available
Source of Income artist

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Timeline

1917

Lord Pretender (8 September 1917 – 22 January 2002) was the stage name of Aldric Farrell, M.O.M., H.B.M. a calypsonian vocalist born on the island of Tobago widely acknowledged to be a "master" of extempo, a lyrically improvised form of calypso music.

1929

He made his first public performance at the age of twelve in 1929, where he delivered a self-composed calypso about the ghost of a young girl.

Early appearances quickly gained Farrell popularity and earned him The Moniker "the Boy Wonder", though he soon reverted to "Pretender", a previous nickname from his school days.

His grandmother did not approve of this career choice due to the "scandalous reputation" of the calypso musicians and more than once, she entered a calypso tent and dragged Pretender out mid-performance.

Farrell later recalled: "I'd get two clouts in the face. My grandmother would say: 'You disgracing the family.'"

1930

Pretender regularly performed calypso in the tents throughout Trinidad and Tobago, and his career progressed steadily during the mid-1930s as he performed side by side with stars of the calypso scene, such as Attila the Hun, Roaring Lion, and Lord Beginner.

Wealth did not automatically follow success in the business; when Pretender accompanied fellow calypsonian Executor on a tour lasting over a month, he received just 60 cents and two bags of oranges as payment.

Lord Pretender won his first music competition with his calypso "Ode to the Negro Race", which became a popular wartime number.

The song's chorus states: "God made us all and in him we trust; So nobody in the world is better than us."

1937

In 1937 he made his first recording, for RCA Victor's Bluebird Records sub-label,

1939

and in 1939 Lord Pretender placed third in the original "Calypso King" competition, an event he later won in 1957.

The honour of being crowned calypso monarch was regarded by the islanders as the ultimate achievement for any calypsonian.

1957

In 1957, Lord Pretender won the prestigious "Calypso King" competition.

1961

Pretender's 1961 song "Never Ever Worry" is considered to be "one of the classic calypsos of all time".

Fellow calypsonian David Rudder once remarked that: "Pretender talked about how there's always someone who has more worries than you. Pretender grew up in an era when calypsonians were not accepted as they are today, and it's this philosophy that got him through those hard times and made him last so long."

1972

Honored by the Trinidad and Tobago government for his services to calypso in 1972, Lord Pretender went on to receive the island's Hummingbird Medal in 1994.

Farrell's mother went to the United States to look for work and left him, at a young age, with his maternal grandmother in Trinidad.

In 1972 Pretender received his first national award, the Trinidad & Tobago Public Service Medal of Merit Silver (for Calypso), from Governor-General Sir Solomon Hochoy.

The next year he competed against Roaring Lion, Viper, the Great Unknown and Owl, in a calypso contest, after which Lord Pretender was honoured as king of extempo.

1990

Starting with an impromptu performance at the age of 12, his career spanned nearly seven decades until cancer of the larynx forced him to retire in the mid-1990s.

Lord Pretender enjoyed a lengthy career in the music business and until the mid-1990s gave regular performances.

In the mid-1990s, cancer of the larynx put an end to his singing career, and in later life the government provided him with rent-free accommodation at Port of Spain.

A single man with no children, Lord Pretender was a big fan of horse racing, and could frequently be observed at Trinidad's Santa Rosa Park racecourse with his horse-owning friend Lord Kitchener.

Pretender died at the age of 84, having been hospitalised for several months due to the throat cancer he had suffered for years.

The general secretary of the Trinbago Unified Calypsonians' Organisation (TUCO) stated that: "Pretender was one of the legends of calypso," and that, "Trinidad has lost a cultural icon....His exploits and achievements will for a long time form part of our cultural legacy as well as our national history."

Lord Pretender perennially appeared on stage smartly dressed in a sharp suit with skinny tie, his act characterised by the casting of suspicious glances and an idiosyncratic utilisation of his fedora as a prop.

Pretender stressed social commentary in calypso, and throughout his career stayed with oratorical ballads.

According to Rapso artist Brother Resistance, Pretender had "zero tolerance for calypsonians who ignored lyrical content in their song," and was known for stressing a "witty, moralising element" in his compositions.

Upon Lord Pretender's death, David Rudder commented that Pretender was "a stickler for what he considered to be authentic kaiso."

Rudder, who in the past had been criticised by Pretender, also remarked:

"The last time I saw him...he asked me when I was going to sing calypso."

": The zenith of a woman's ambition in life

In "Yo No Quiero Trabajo", Lord Pretender tells of the commonly held perception by men of the time that dating a rich white woman led to an increase in respect:

": Even my friends they envy me

Pretender was widely considered "master" of extempo, a lyrically, which at the time was held to be the supreme form of calypso.

Extempo involves the improvisation of lyrics based upon topics suggested by the audience; the performer spontaneously devises songs filled with intricate lyrics and rhymes.

Pretender has been described as extempo's "greatest exponent, and virtually sole guardian."

1994

In 1994 he received the prestigious Hummingbird medal, but despite frequent appearances on stage he did not make much money during his 72-year music career.

1996

In 1996 "Never Ever Worry" featured in the soundtrack for the U.S. road movie, Cadillac Ranch:

": Don't mind how you suffering bad