George Victory   History

The following was created from an interview with George Victory in the summer of 2007.

George Victory is a seasoned musician from Trinidad. His start originated from humble beginnings and parents that loved music. When George was very young, his parents sang and his uncle was an accomplished guitarist. One enduring story that George tells is when he found a way to get into his uncle’s window so he could practice on his guitar. During a family get together, George started playing a gospel song, “Jesus Said.” To everyone’s amazement, he was excellent and his father said, “He’s a guitar man already!” From then on, his uncle left the window open so George could practice anytime.

When George reached the ripe old age of nine years old, his Uncle made him a ukulele and sent it to him in Trinidad. Soon after, a radio station picked George up and for three years he played Elvis music on the air. George grew into wanting his own band and formed the group, The Missiles. At the age of fifteen, the band was playing songs by the Beetles, Rolling Stones, plus a collage of music from the Trinidad region. This led to playing on the road and the group was considered one of the top seven bands in Trinidad.

The word of George’s success moved quickly and a much larger band asked if he would like to play with them. The Highlights Combo was one of the top three groups in Trinidad, boasting a 15 piece orchestra. Due to his age and lack of non formal musical training, he told the arranger, Dennis, about his deficiency. Dennis adopted him like a second father and helped him with arranging charts and learning music.

After that, George played at the Prime Minister’s Gala and the band was playing a wide variety of Waltz’s, English music, and Classical Music. Other bands were also playing there, namely, The Casanovas and, Billie and the Jets.

By the time George was nineteen years old he was ready for more musical training and signed up for a military boy’s camp which promised to teach music. He formed another band, The Forest Boys. They practiced between the bathrooms and most of their free time to perfect their art playing at every campfire for the camp.

George next met Glen Revero, a musician with Billie and The Jets. They played together and soon after, the leader of the band, Carrol Bailey came to Aruba to speak with his parents. George’s parents gave their blessing for him to play with the group and he went on to play with The Mighty Sparrow, who is world renown for his Calypso style.

Between 1970 and 1977, George traveled with the band world wide. From time to time, the band would take a break and George formed a band in St. Louis named, The Trinidad’s. An high school sweetheart, Claudette, was leaving for New York.

George left St. Louis for New York and began clothing design with Claudette. They designed for famous actors including Tellie Savalis and Frank Sinatra. One day a song by the Stylistics was playing on the radio and George remembered his long lost calling, so he packed his bags and left. His supervisor said, “Victory, what’s wrong?” I said, “Look, I’m a musician and I have to be playing music.” His boss said to take two weeks off with pay and then come back to work. At the end of the two weeks, he was getting ready to go back to work and the phone rang. The phone call was from Monte Davidson, a name that sounded familiar. Davidson said, “George, this is Monte Davidson with Songs Incorporated. Are you playing with anyone?” He told him, “no” and he said they had a band playing at a club that was formed by the owners of the Yankees and Mets. George was ecstatic that his true love for music could be resumed.

After 45 minutes in a session with the band, they were amazed that George knew the songs and played so perfectly. Word of mouth sent him to his next band, Bumble Bee Unlimited, where 23 guitarists were auditioning. He was the seventh audition and after he played the audition ended. George received the job.

George played with this group for a while when the Fat Back Band was about to go into the studio and they needed a guitarist. One of the girls that sang with universal studio and Bumble Bee Unlimited told them they could use George for the recordings but not the band. So Johnny Flippin, who was the bass player of Fat Back Band called him and said “we are in the studio right now, can you make it and bring all of your toys.” George just came in with his guitar and they asked. “How can you get all of those sounds with just your guitar?” After the first song the leader of the band said, “This is impossible for someone who has never heard this music before to come in for 10 minutes and cut a song.” Then they said, “Let’s give him another one.” George listened to it for two minutes and said, “I’m ready.” They started the tape and it was cut on the first try. They wanted George to go to England with them but he was already booked with another band. While they were on tour the musical director, Jerry Dummas, called George and said they were getting ready to record Danny King’s album. Danny had heard George and wanted him to record with them and to do some solo’s also. That was one of George’s greatest musical triumphs.

Four other bands were pursuing George, so he had to make some tough decisions about his future. He decided that his alliances were to The Fat Back Band. Just before playing the opening for the Commodores, two cases of champagne were delivered back stage and it was announced that their album had just went “gold.” Everything just got better and better after that moment.

George went back to Brooklyn after the tour and the producer Charlie from Charlie’s Records was the producer for Caribbean Market and he asked George to do some work for the Calipsonians. They have never heard the guitar played in this way, funky guitar in the Calypso style. George had created a style in the Caribbean market that stood out. He had mixed the Caribbean style with American Funk. Then all the Calypso bands started calling George to play on their albums. In one year he played on eighty five percent of the Calypso albums that were released from the Caribbean Islands - Trinidad, Tobago, and St. Vincent, Grenada. That is what led to the numerous awards recognizing this unique Calypso sound.

Soon after, George began another band and played in Morocco, for the opening of Cat on a Hot Tin Roof, the preliminary opening of the Broadway show Cats. Following that George played with Grace Jones and a number of other people. George was predominately in New York; however, the City was wearing on George due to the hustle, bustle, and bad weather. He needed sunshine and to see the ocean. As miracles often happen, George received a serendipitous phone call from Kenny Williams who lived in Daytona Beach. Kenny was the leader of the group Caribbean Posse and he said they needed a led guitar player. George had some unfinished work and told him he could arrive in about two weeks.

Kenny picked George up and introduced him to the managers of the club. He told the managers of the club that rehearsals with George were not necessary. George did play for them and they loved his unique style and talent. After two weeks, George needed to leave; however, the owners of the club did not want him to and offered him a place to stay on the beach. Ahhhh… sun and ocean.

George was grateful that Claudette, now his wife, encouraged him to go to Florida. He has been in Key West for five years. When asked about why he is so successful in Key West, George said: “I work hard here and try to please the ear of the audience that is in the club. If I notice they like some songs, I will play more of them. I ask what they want to hear and I will play the music for them. I’m here to entertain with music and encourage the customers to have wonderful time.”

George’s influences were his father and uncle, Elbut Laboard. His musical influences were Hendrix, Wes Montgomery, Santanna, and Stevie Ray Vaughn. These are the influences that inspired George to stretch the limits of his musical talent.

George is currently finishing two albums. One is a gospel album so he can raise money to help children all over the world and also to help build back New Orleans. It is about sending positive messages and hope. The other album is about positive messages but for large arenas. He would like to have 50,000 people raising their arms for him again.

George has a strong work ethic and a bond to his family relationships. Many stars have problems with maintaining family relationships; however, he attributes his long lasting marriage to Claudette’s strength. He considers her to be his best friend. When on the road, he always has a picture in his wallet that he puts on his hotel dresser. This keeps George centered and knowing what is really important.

George’s goal is to leave a good legacy and to help others. He wants to make sure his grandchildren have a good education. George states, “You see people in Bosnia, India and other places eating out of garbage cans. I look at it and it makes me cry, it makes me cry. I have to try and help with that.” He went on to say, “You have to believe in yourself, you cannot give up. The only time you loose in life is if you give up. You have to have perseverance that is the key.”