The Beatles Trinidad Connection

Lord Woodbine, also known as Harold Phillips, was a Trinidadian calypsonian who was born in Laventille. He was a music promoter who is said to have played a mentoring role in the early careers of the Beatles. He is sometimes referred to as the “sixth Beatle” because of his close association with the band during their formative years in Liverpool.

Lord Woodbine operated the Casbah Club in Liverpool, which was a popular venue for local bands, including the Beatles, who played there early in their career. He also gave them their first professional gig at Lathom Hall in 1960. Lord Woodbine was also a close friend of Beatles’ manager Brian Epstein and was said to have provided Epstein with guidance and advice on promoting and managing the band.

It is said that he(Harold Phillips) lied about his age and joined the Royal Airforce in 1943 when he was only 14 years old. He went back to Trinidad in 1947 and became a calypsonian. He, however, returned to England in 1948 on the HMT Empire Windrush. This was the boat that not only carried a number of West Indian immigrants to Britain but also Lord Kitchener (Aldwyn Roberts) and Lord Beginner (Egbert Moore).

In his latest book, The Lyrics: 1956 to the Present, Paul Mc Cartney made special mention of Lord Woodbine as a Caribbean promoter who owned The New Caberet Artis’ Club where he hosted the Silver Beetles, the band’s shortlived name before The Beatles.