Hubert R. Charles

Roaring Lion (22 February 1908 – 11 July 1999) was a Trinidadian calypsonian (calypso singer/composer). His 65-year career began in the early 1930s and he is best known for his compositions "Ugly Woman" (1933), "Mary Ann" and "Netty, Netty", which are still performed today. The song "If You Wanna Be Happy", which hit number one on the Billboard Hot 100 on 18 May 1963, as well as the R&B singles chart, is based on Roaring Lion's "Ugly Woman".

Birth and Death Data: Born February 22, 1908, Died July 11, 1999

Date Range of DAHR Recordings: 1935 - 1941

Roles Represented in DAHR: vocalist

= Recordings are available for online listening.
= Recordings were issued from this master. No recordings issued from other masters.

Recordings

Company Matrix No. Size First Recording Date Title Primary Performer Description Role Audio
Decca 39410 10-in. 3/15/1935 Dingo Lay Keskidee Trio vocalist  
Decca 39423 10-in. 3/18/1935 Trinidad-My home Keskidee Trio vocalist  
Decca 39424 10-in. 3/18/1935 Congo bara Keskidee Trio vocalist  
Decca 39426 10-in. 3/20/1935 Go down the valley Keskidee Trio vocalist  
Decca 39433 10-in. 3/20/1935 War Keskidee Trio vocalist  
Decca 39434 10-in. 3/20/1935 Shango Keskidee Trio vocalist  
Decca 39450 10-in. 3/22/1935 Marian le' go me man Keskidee Trio vocalist  
Decca 39454 10-in. 3/22/1935 Don't le' me mother know Keskidee Trio vocalist  
Decca 39456 10-in. 3/22/1935 Sa Gomes emporiums Keskidee Trio vocalist  
Decca 60953 10-in. 3/31/1936 The rumba dance Hubert R. Charles vocalist  
Decca 60955 10-in. 3/31/1936 Peggy Daniels Hubert R. Charles vocalist  
Decca 60957 10-in. 3/31/1936 Advantage Mussolini Hubert R. Charles vocalist  
Decca 60966 10-in. 4/2/1936 Four Mills Brothers Hubert R. Charles vocalist  
Decca 60970 10-in. 4/2/1936 Bargee Pelauri Hubert R. Charles vocalist  
Decca 60986 10-in. 4/4/1936 Fall of man Hubert R. Charles vocalist  
Decca 60992 10-in. 4/7/1936 Monkey Hubert R. Charles ; Neville Marcano vocalist  
Decca 61004 10-in. 4/8/1936 Lavaro Hubert R. Charles vocalist  
Decca 61006 10-in. 4/8/1936 I wouldn't work Hubert R. Charles vocalist  
Decca 61007 10-in. 4/8/1936 Life of the lion Hubert R. Charles vocalist  
Decca 61022 10-in. 4/9/1936 Advantage Mussolini The Lion [Hubert R. Charles] vocalist  
Decca 61028 10-in. 4/11/1936 Milly King Radio ; The Lion [Hubert R. Charles] vocalist  
Decca 61029 10-in. 4/11/1936 Abyssinian lament Gerald Clark and his Caribbean Serenaders vocalist  
Decca 61030 10-in. 4/11/1936 War King Radio ; The Lion [Hubert R. Charles] ; The Tiger [Neville Marcano] vocalist  
Decca 61031 10-in. 4/11/1936 we ain't 'fraid nobody King Radio ; The Lion [Hubert R. Charles] vocalist  
Decca 61032 10-in. 4/11/1936 Don't break it I say King Radio ; The Lion [Hubert R. Charles] ; The Tiger [Neville Marcano] vocalist  
Decca 61033 10-in. 4/11/1936 Millington King Radio ; The Lion [Hubert R. Charles] ; The Tiger [Neville Marcano] vocalist  
Decca 61957 10-in. 2/16/1937 Netty-Netty The Lion [Hubert R. Charles] vocalist  
Decca 61961 10-in. 2/16/1937 Love thy neighbor The Lion [Hubert R. Charles] vocalist  
Decca 61963 10-in. 2/16/1937 Sally Sally water The Lion [Hubert R. Charles] vocalist  
Decca 61967 10-in. 2/16/1937 Out the fire The Lion [Hubert R. Charles] vocalist  
Decca 61968 10-in. 2/16/1937 Food scandal Atilla, the Hun [Raymond Quevedo] ; The Caresser [Rufus Callender] ; The Executor [Philip Garcia] ; The Lion [Hubert R. Charles] vocalist  
Decca 61969 10-in. 2/16/1937 Hold up blackbird, hold up Atilla, the Hun [Raymond Quevedo] ; The Caresser [Rufus Callender] ; The Executor [Philip Garcia] ; The Lion [Hubert R. Charles] vocalist  
Decca 61989 10-in. 2/25/1937 No syne no day The Lion [Hubert R. Charles] vocalist  
Decca 61992 10-in. 2/23/1937 Power of the Lion The Lion [Hubert R. Charles] vocalist  
Decca 61993 10-in. 2/23/1937 Mi ropa Atilla, the Hun [Raymond Quevedo] ; The Caresser [Rufus Callender] ; The Executor [Philip Garcia] ; The Lion [Hubert R. Charles] vocalist  
Decca 61996 10-in. 2/25/1937 King George the VI-2 The Lion [Hubert R. Charles] vocalist  
Decca 61997 10-in. 2/23/1937 Miss Bimbilla Brown Atilla, the Hun [Raymond Quevedo] ; The Caresser [Rufus Callender] ; The Executor [Philip Garcia] ; The Lion [Hubert R. Charles] vocalist  
Decca 62003 10-in. 2/23/1937 Bowl and bat Atilla, the Hun [Raymond Quevedo] ; The Caresser [Rufus Callender] ; The Executor [Philip Garcia] ; The Lion [Hubert R. Charles] vocalist  
Decca 62004 10-in. 2/23/1937 The rats Atilla, the Hun [Raymond Quevedo] ; The Caresser [Rufus Callender] ; The Executor [Philip Garcia] ; The Lion [Hubert R. Charles] vocalist  
Decca 62007 10-in. 2/23/1937 Ah Gertie Atilla, the Hun [Raymond Quevedo] ; The Caresser [Rufus Callender] ; The Executor [Philip Garcia] ; The Lion [Hubert R. Charles] vocalist  
Decca 62008 10-in. 2/25/1937 Nora darling The Lion [Hubert R. Charles] vocalist  
Decca 62009 10-in. 2/25/1937 I will string along with you-1, 2 Atilla, the Hun [Raymond Quevedo] ; The Lion [Hubert R. Charles] vocalist  
Decca 62010 10-in. 2/25/1937 Louis Schmeling Atilla, the Hun [Raymond Quevedo] ; The Lion [Hubert R. Charles] vocalist  
Decca 62011 10-in. 2/24/1937 Netty's defense Atilla, the Hun [Raymond Quevedo] ; The Caresser [Rufus Callender] ; The Executor [Philip Garcia] ; The Lion [Hubert R. Charles] vocalist  
Decca 62012 10-in. 2/24/1937 Selassie is held by the policeman Atilla, the Hun [Raymond Quevedo] ; The Caresser [Rufus Callender] ; The Executor [Philip Garcia] ; The Lion [Hubert R. Charles] vocalist  
Decca 62013 10-in. 2/24/1937 Old lady The Lion [Hubert R. Charles] vocalist  
Decca 62018 10-in. 2/25/1937 Mrs. Simpson Atilla, the Hun [Raymond Quevedo] ; The Lion [Hubert R. Charles] vocalist  
Decca 62019 10-in. 2/25/1937 Modern times-1,2 Atilla, the Hun [Raymond Quevedo] ; The Lion [Hubert R. Charles] vocalist  
Decca 62020 10-in. 2/23/1937 Mrs. Simpson Atilla, the Hun [Raymond Quevedo] ; The Caresser [Rufus Callender] ; The Executor [Philip Garcia] ; The Lion [Hubert R. Charles] vocalist  
Decca 62022 10-in. 2/23/1937 Reign of the Georges Atilla, the Hun [Raymond Quevedo] ; The Caresser [Rufus Callender] ; The Executor [Philip Garcia] ; The Lion [Hubert R. Charles] vocalist  
Decca 62023 10-in. 2/23/1937 Meet me at the Sangre Grande Atilla, the Hun [Raymond Quevedo] ; The Caresser [Rufus Callender] ; The Executor [Philip Garcia] ; The Lion [Hubert R. Charles] vocalist  
Decca 62026 10-in. 2/23/1937 War Atilla, the Hun [Raymond Quevedo] ; The Caresser [Rufus Callender] ; The Executor [Philip Garcia] ; The Lion [Hubert R. Charles] vocalist  
Decca 68897 10-in. 4/2/1941 woopsin The Lion [Hubert R. Charles] vocalist  
Decca 68945 10-in. 4/2/1941 Three blind mice The Lion [Hubert R. Charles] vocalist  
Decca 69002 10-in. 4/16/1941 Winston Churchill The Lion [Hubert R. Charles] vocalist  
Decca 69003 10-in. 4/16/1941 A little more oil in my lamp The Lion [Hubert R. Charles] vocalist  
Decca 69019 10-in. 4/18/1941 Pappy chunks The Lion [Hubert R. Charles] vocalist  
Decca 69026 10-in. 4/18/1941 If you want pardon The Lion [Hubert R. Charles] vocalist  
Decca 69029 10-in. 4/21/1941 Ugly woman The Lion [Hubert R. Charles] vocalist  
Decca 69030 10-in. 4/21/1941 Bing Crosby The Lion [Hubert R. Charles] vocalist  
Decca 91372 10-in. 2/25/1938 Excursion to Grenada The Lion [Hubert R. Charles] vocalist  
Decca 91373 10-in. 2/25/1938 Ba boo la la The Lion [Hubert R. Charles] vocalist  
Decca 91379 10-in. 2/25/1938 I am going to buy a bungaloo The Lion [Hubert R. Charles] vocalist  
Decca 91380 10-in. 2/25/1938 Emmalene The Lion [Hubert R. Charles] vocalist  
Decca 91418 10-in. March 1938 Ancient carnival The Lion [Hubert R. Charles] vocalist  
Decca 91419 10-in. March 1938 Hojos The Lion [Hubert R. Charles] vocalist  
Decca 91420 10-in. March 1938 Sa Gomes emporium The Lion [Hubert R. Charles] vocalist  
Decca 91422 10-in. 3/7/1938 Heroes of old The Lion [Hubert R. Charles] vocalist  
Decca 91423 10-in. 3/7/1938 Vitalogy The Lion [Hubert R. Charles] vocalist  
Decca 91424 10-in. 3/7/1938 I am happy to be in love The Lion [Hubert R. Charles] vocalist  
Decca 91434 10-in. 3/9/1938 When my body lie down in the grave The Lion [Hubert R. Charles] vocalist  
Decca 91435 10-in. 3/9/1938 Jonah comes out the wilderness The Lion [Hubert R. Charles] vocalist  
Decca 91436 10-in. 3/9/1938 See mee on mee roll The Lion [Hubert R. Charles] vocalist  
Decca 91437 10-in. 3/9/1938 Mamy mine, my baby for me The Lion [Hubert R. Charles] vocalist  
Decca 91438 10-in. 3/9/1938 Ting a ling mi Bangola The Lion [Hubert R. Charles] vocalist  
Decca 91439 10-in. 3/9/1938 African war call The Lion [Hubert R. Charles] vocalist  
Decca 91452 10-in. 3/12/1938 The vendor's song John Buddy Williams Blue Rhythm Orchestra ; The Lion [Hubert R. Charles] vocalist  
Decca 91453 10-in. 3/10/1938 Guests of Rudy Vallee The Lion [Hubert R. Charles] vocalist  
Decca 91456 10-in. 3/12/1938 Tina John "Buddy" Williams Blue Rhythm Orchestra ; The Lion [Hubert R. Charles] vocalist  
Decca 91458 10-in. 3/12/1938 Barre-a-oh (Instrumental) Atilla, the Hun [Raymond Quevedo] ; John Buddy Williams Blue Rhythm Orchestra ; The Lion [Hubert R. Charles] ; Lord Executor ; The Tiger [Neville Marcano] vocalist  
Decca 91459 10-in. 3/12/1938 Marian (Instrumental) Atilla, the Hun [Raymond Quevedo] ; John Buddy Williams Blue Rhythm Orchestra ; The Lion [Hubert R. Charles] ; Lord Executor ; The Tiger [Neville Marcano] vocalist  
Decca 91460 10-in. 3/12/1938 Girls of today John "Buddy" Williams Blue Rhythm Orchestra ; The Lion [Hubert R. Charles] vocalist  
Decca 91461 10-in. 3/12/1938 Man, man, man Peter John "Buddy" Williams Blue Rhythm Orchestra ; The Lion [Hubert R. Charles] vocalist  
Decca 91468 10-in. 3/14/1938 Love has done for me The Lion [Hubert R. Charles] vocalist  
Decca 91609 10-in. 1/26/1939 Buddy Abraham Hubert R. Charles ; Codallo's Top Hatters Orchestra vocalist  
Decca 91618 10-in. 1/26/1939 Woman headache The Lion [Hubert R. Charles] vocalist  
Decca 91619 10-in. 1/26/1939 Malicious neighbors The Lion [Hubert R. Charles] vocalist  
Decca 91628 10-in. 1/31/1939 Death The Lion [Hubert R. Charles] vocalist  
Decca 91629 10-in. 1/31/1939 Bee The Lion [Hubert R. Charles] vocalist  
Decca 91630 10-in. 1/31/1939 Sweet Emily The Lion [Hubert R. Charles] vocalist  
Decca 91631 10-in. 1/31/1939 Old woman The Lion [Hubert R. Charles] vocalist  
Decca 91632 10-in. 1/31/1939 Hooray Hoorah The Lion [Hubert R. Charles] vocalist  
Decca 91633 10-in. 1/31/1939 Fire girls The Lion [Hubert R. Charles] vocalist  
Decca 91634 10-in. 1/31/1939 Elsie gamble The Lion [Hubert R. Charles] vocalist  
Decca 91650 10-in. 2/7/1939 Charming Trinidad The Lion [Hubert R. Charles] vocalist  
Decca 91661 10-in. 2/7/1939 Bad woman OK The Lion [Hubert R. Charles] vocalist  
Decca 91662 10-in. 2/7/1939 Blow wind blow The Lion [Hubert R. Charles] vocalist  
Decca 91663 10-in. 2/7/1939 Kash kash K. More The Lion [Hubert R. Charles] vocalist  
Decca 91664 10-in. 2/7/1939 Customs fire The Lion [Hubert R. Charles] vocalist  
Decca 91665 10-in. 2/7/1939 The power of the Lion The Lion [Hubert R. Charles] vocalist  
Decca 91666 10-in. 2/7/1939 Where is my sister this morning The Lion [Hubert R. Charles] vocalist  
Decca 91667 10-in. 2/7/1939 Ara da da The Lion [Hubert R. Charles] vocalist  
Decca 91670 2/8/1939 [Unknown title(s)] Atilla, the Hun [Raymond Quevedo] ; The Caresser [Rufus Callender] ; The Lion [Hubert R. Charles] ; Lord Executor vocalist  
Decca 91671 10-in. 2/8/1939 Bing Crosby The Lion [Hubert R. Charles] vocalist  
Decca 91672 10-in. 2/8/1939 Mama I want it The Lion [Hubert R. Charles] vocalist  
Decca 91911 10-in. February 1940 The invasion of Poland The Lion [Hubert R. Charles] vocalist  
Decca 91912 10-in. February 1940 Sir Neville Chamberlain The Lion [Hubert R. Charles] vocalist  
Decca 91913 10-in. February 1940 Hitler's mistake The Lion [Hubert R. Charles] vocalist  
Decca 91922 10-in. 2/8/1940 Hitler's attitude The Lion [Hubert R. Charles] vocalist  
Decca 91926 10-in. 2/8/1940 Lion oh The Lion [Hubert R. Charles] vocalist  
Decca 91927 10-in. 2/8/1940 Carnival revue The Lion [Hubert R. Charles] vocalist  
Decca 91946 10-in. 2/10/1940 Deliso The Lion [Hubert R. Charles] vocalist  
Decca 91948 10-in. 2/10/1940 Happy land of Canaan The Lion [Hubert R. Charles] vocalist  
Decca 91949 10-in. 2/10/1940 Suzie-Q The Lion [Hubert R. Charles] vocalist  
Decca 91950 10-in. 2/10/1940 I sent my wife to the market The Lion [Hubert R. Charles] vocalist  
Decca 91951 10-in. 2/10/1940 Shango dance The Lion [Hubert R. Charles] vocalist  
Decca 91952 10-in. 2/10/1940 Rada dance The Lion [Hubert R. Charles] vocalist  
Decca 91979 10-in. 2/12/1940 Orphan home The Lion [Hubert R. Charles] vocalist  

Citation

Discography of American Historical Recordings, s.v. "Charles, Hubert R.," accessed November 7, 2024, https://adpprod1.library.ucsb.edu/names/308127.

Charles, Hubert R.. (2024). In Discography of American Historical Recordings. Retrieved November 7, 2024, from https://adpprod1.library.ucsb.edu/names/308127.

"Charles, Hubert R.." Discography of American Historical Recordings. UC Santa Barbara Library, 2024. Web. 7 November 2024.

DAHR Persistent Identifier

URI: https://adpprod1.library.ucsb.edu/names/308127

External Sources

Wikipedia: Roaring Lion

Discogs: Hubert R. Charles

Linked Open Data Sources

LCNAR: Roaring Lion (Musician) - http://id.loc.gov/authorities/names/n88155470

Wikidata: Roaring Lion - http://www.wikidata.org/entity/Q7339869

VIAF: http://viaf.org/viaf/262097992

MusicBrainz: Roaring Lion - https://musicbrainz.org/artist/48fb5388-88e2-4327-ae8c-dc19185804c8

ISNI: 0000 0003 8166 4556 - http://www.isni.org/isni/0000000381664556

Wikipedia content provided under the terms of the Creative Commons BY-SA license

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