Elston ‘Ellie Matt’ Nero of Newtown, St.Kitts, is known for his musical genius that has allowed him to gain recognition at home and abroad.
An arranger, composer, guitarist, keyboardist, drummer, and steel pan player, Ellie Matt was involved in St. Kitts and Nevis’ National Carnival since its inception in 1971.
Ellie Matt has been quoted as saying a Trinidadian musician influenced his decision to take part in carnival that first year.
“In 1971 on the birth of National Carnival, I was Influenced by Joey Lewis of Trinidad and Tobago. My feelings were, if we were having National Carnival, It would be wise to use our own material and play our own songs – hence the song, “Play You Mass All Over Town for Carnival ‘71’. That was my first official composition and my own original song to coincide with National Carnival.,” he said.
Interestingly enough Ellie Matt did not intend to enter the calypso competition that year.
“My 1971 hit tune was designed to be road march. I was surprised to learn that I had to be a registered calypsonian to win. The same thing happened in l972 with my tunes “LeggoMe jacket” and “Drunken Mass”. In 1973 I was really confident, and I decided if I had to compete, I would have to win the crown as well. If you know your history, you will realize that is exactly what happened. I won the calypso and road march titles.”
Records indicate that King Ellie Matt was crowned Calypso King in 1973, 1974, 1978, 1980, 1981, 1982, 1984, 1986, 1990, and 1992.
His very popular road march hits had him crowned Road March Champion in 1973, 1976, 1977, 1978, 1979, 1982, and 1992.
Ellie Matt’s Band started with two trumpets, a saxophone, and a trombone.
Reminiscing on how he got his name, Ellie Matt said “In 1971, the crossroads came down from the states with a bunch of girls and they said they came to spend the summer. There was one girl in the band, her name was Elvina and me and she were friends and she asked what my name stage name is and I said Ellie Matt.”
He said at that time he didn’t have a stage name but, to give the lady an answer, he combined his first name Elston and his middle name Matthew and called himself Ellie Matt; a name that he is known by today.
“We were the Group Impressions and people referred to the band as G. I’s Brass. I added Ellie Matt to the G.I’s Brass because it was my band and I wanted the identification. In those days, in the top bands, whoever was the bandleader or lead musician, they put their name upfront.
In his years of contributing to the musical landscape in the region, Ellie Matt worked with the likes of Mighty Sparrow, Lord Nelson, Lord Kitchener, Calypso Rose, Shadow, Arrow, and many others. He was the leader of the well-known Ellie Matt and the GI’s Brass that toured different continents, taking the name of St. Kitts and Nevis across the globe.
In 1973 his Band won the Caribbean Brass-O-Rama competition. In 2016 the Organization of American States (OAS) in pursuance of a United Nations Resolution declaring the ‘Decade of People of African Descent’ Ellie Matt was listed as among persons in the Americas who have excelled in the Arts and Culture with their contributions being recognized nationally or hemispherically. He has also been inducted into the International Soca Hall of Fame.
He is the producer of over 20 albums. He has had many chart-busting hits like “Patsy” “Shang Shang”, “Jamback”. His song “I Love St. Kitts- Viva” has been dubbed the unofficial second national anthem.
A medal of honour awardee in the year 2000, Ellie Matt has been described as one of the Caribbean’s most gifted and celebrated musical icons. He is also an Independence awardee, having been granted the Companion of the Star of Merit for musical excellence locally, regionally, and internationally.
Known as a calypsonian extraordinaire, Ellie Matt says “There is music in my head all day and all night. I hear arrangements. I hear a song and I can play it ten different ways. I could take it any way I wanted it to go. Music is in my head constantly. I can compose songs with words and add melody. I can compose a melody and add lyrics and I have done that many times.”
The famed musician now suffers from kidney issues and lives in the United States where he is undergoing frequent treatments. He has graced the St. Kitts Music Festival stage in 2010.
Ellie Matt’s hit songs include:
- Viva St. Kitts
- Makazema
- Joke Dey Making
- Good Enough For Me
- Teacher Teacher
- Sugar City Jamming
- Stand and Fight
- All Day All Night
- Come Go Home
- Me Gusta
- Patsy
- Jam Back
- Oh Grenada
- De Poor Can’t Take No More
- Shang Shang
- Wicked Fifer
Source: Loop News
