Isaac Blackman

Isaac Blackman was a Trinidadian musician from Belmont who helped shape soca music in the 1970s. He had a song called "Father Of Soca" that became something of a nickname for him, though the title was probably more about the song than a formal honorific. His 1974 album of the same name and later records like "Psychedelic Soca" and "The Blackman" came out during those formative years.

He worked with a band called the Blackman Group that included musicians like Jerome Romain on keyboards and Keith Hinds on drums. Blackman also collaborated with other Trinidadian artists including Mighty Sparrow and Lord Kitchener, figures from the calypso tradition that soca grew out of.

Some of his music addressed social and political topics, which occasionally drew attention from authorities. The sound itself blended calypso with African rhythms and some soul influences, creating the uptempo foundation that would define soca for decades. Another track, "To The Ceiling," shows that driving, celebratory energy.

Blackman's recordings from the mid-70s to early 80s helped establish soca as a distinct genre. They're still played during Carnival seasons and have influenced generations of Caribbean musicians who came after him.