The Carnival Road March is the musical composition played most often at the "judging points" along the parade route during a Caribbean Carnival. Originating as part of the Trinidad and Tobago Carnival, the term has been applied to other Caribbean carnivals. There it was and is still viewed as a musical genre.
In Trinidad and Tobago the Road March title has been officially given out every year since 1932 (with the exception of the years affected by World War II when Carnival did not officially take place). Popular Unofficial Road Marches have also been recognized in T&T since 1834 after slavery was abolished. Prior to World War II, T&T Road Marches were referred to as "Leggos" or "Breakaways" by the general population but were rebranded by the Carnival authorities as the Road March from 1946. Scoring is based upon a register-and-count system devised by a Carnival committee before the start of the parade.
After a German pop song "Happy Wanderer" by the Obernkirchen Children's Choir won the Trinidad & Tobago Road March title in 1955 the rules were amended to restrict songs eligible to be in the road march competition to only songs vocalized by local Trinidad & Tobago artists. The Road March title is among the most prestigious in Trinidad Carnival. The most such titles are Machel Montano with twelve wins, ahead of the late Lord Kitchener with eleven wins, Super Blue with ten wins, and the Mighty Sparrow with eight wins. In the mid-1970s, a woman officially broke through in the male dominated Calypso arena. Calypso Rose was the first female to officially win the Trinidad and Tobago Road March competition in 1977 with her song "Give More Tempo". The following year 1978 with "Come Leh We Jam" in addition to winning the Road March title again, Calypso Rose also won the "Calypso King" competition, the first time a woman had received that award. As a result, the "Calypso King" competition was officially renamed the "Calypso Monarch" competition to take into account that females also take part and have won titles.
First Calypso recordings were made in 1912 so Trinidad & Tobago Road Marches prior to 1912 were not recorded that year but may have been recorded years later after recording technology became available to Calypso pioneers of the 1910s to 1930s. In 2019 Skinny Fabulous of St. Vincent & the Grenadines created history by becoming the second foreign artiste (after the German Obernkirchen Children's Choir) and the very first foreign soca artiste to win the prestigious Trinidad & Tobago Road March title with a song called "Famalay" which was vocalized by Skinny Fabulous, Machel Montano and Bunji Garllin.
Trinidad and Tobago Below are over 100 T&T Road Marches starting from this year going back to the 1800s when most calypsos were sung in patois. YearPerformer Song Album / Notes 2026 Machel Montano ”Encore" 12th Road March win 2025 Machel Montano"Pardy" 11th T&T Road March win2024 Mical Teja"DNA"HOME / 1st T&T RM win2023 Bunji Garlin “Hard Fete"2nd T&T RM win2022None due to COVID-19 Pandemic (Restricted Carnival activities)2021 Farmer Nappy “Backyard Jam" (Online Road March)No Carnival.2020 Neil “Iwer” George & Kes Dieffenthaller“Stage Gone Bad" (also won ISM)2nd & 1st T&T RM wins2019Skinny Fabulous, Machel Montano & Bunji Garlin "Famalay"G.O.A.T / 1st, 10th & 1st T&T RM wins 2018 Machel Montano & Superblue "Soca Kingdom" 9th & 10th T&T RM wins2017Ultimate Rejects featuring MX Prime"Full Extreme" (also won Panorama)1st T&T RM win2016Machel Montano"Waiting On the Stage"Monk Evolution2015Machel Montano"Like Ah Boss" (also won ISM)Monk Monte 2014 Machel Montano "Ministry Of Road" (MOR) (also won ISM) Happiest Man Alive 2013Superblue "Fantastic Friday" (also won ISM)Soca Gold 2013 2012 Machel Montano "Pump Yuh Flag" (PYF) (also won ISM) Double M 2011 Machel Montano "Advantage" (also won ISM) The Return 2010 JW & Blaze "Palance" (also won ISM)Monkey Steak Play Soca 2009 Fay-Ann Lyons-Alvarez "Meet Super Blue" (also won ISM) 2008 Fay-Ann Lyons-Alvarez "Get On"Best Of Best Soca 2008 2007 Machel Montano "Jumbie" Book of Angels 2006Machel Montano & Patrice Roberts "Band Of De Year" (BODY) B.O.D.Y. 2005 Shurwayne Winchester "Dead or Alive" 2004 Shurwayne Winchester "The Band Coming"Press Play 2003 Fay-Ann Lyons-Alvarez "Display"Soca Gold 2003 (3rd female winner) 2002 Naya George "Trinidad"Soca Gold 2002 2001 Shadow aka Mighty Shadow "Stranger" (also won ISM)Shadow - Just For You 2000 Superblue / Iwer George (TIE) "Pump Up" / "Carnival Come Back Again"Soca Matrix / Iwer & Family 1999 Sanell Dempster "De River"Blue Ventures 1999 (2nd female winner) 1998 Wayne Rodriguez "Footsteps" Charge 1997 Machel Montano "Big Truck" Heavy Duty (1st Road March win) 1996 Nigel Lewis "Moving"Performed live with his brother Marvin Lewis 1995Superblue "Signal For Lara"Happy Carnival 1994 Preacher "Jump and Wave"Rattlesnake Wine 1993 Super Blue "Bacchanal Time" (also won SM)Bacchanal Time 1992 Super Blue "Jab Jab" (Wine On Something)In The Power 1991 Super Blue (formerly Blue Boy) "Get Something and Wave"10th Anniversary 1990 Tambu "No No We Eh Going Home"The Cry 1989 Tambu "Free Up"The Journey 1988 Tambu "This Party Is It"Culture 1987 Mighty Duke "Is Thunder"Yester, Today, Tomorrow 1986 David Rudder "Bahia Gyal"The Hammer 1985 Crazy "Soucouyant"Caribbean Hits Makers 1984Sparrow "Don't Back Back"King Of The World 1983 Blue Boy "Rebecca" (also won Panorama)Superman 1982 Penguin "Deputy"Life Is A Lollipop 1981 Blue Boy "Ethel"Soca In Shaolin Temple 1980 Blue Boy "Soca Baptist" (3rd soca to win RM)Blueboy's breakout song (1st Road March win) 1979 Poser "Ah Tell She" (Smoke Ah Watty)2nd soca to win RM 1978 Calypso Rose "Come Leh We Jam" (Soca Jam)Her Majesty Calypso Rose (1st soca song to win RM) 1977 Calypso Rose "Give More Tempo" (uptempo calypso)Action Is Tight (1st official female winner) 1976Kitchener "Flag Woman" (soca style bassline)Kitch: Home For Carnival (11th & final Road March win) 1975 Kitchener "Tribute to Spree" (also won Panorama)Carnival Fever In Kitch 1974 Shadow "Bass Man"Bass Man LP 1973 Kitchener "Rain-O-Rama" (also won Panorama)We Walk 100 Miles 1972 Sparrow "Drunk and Disorderly"Hotter Than Ever 1971 Kitchener "Mas' At Madison"Curfew Time With Kitch 1970 Kitchener "Margie" (also won Panorama)Sock It To Me Kitch 1969 Sparrow "Sa Sa Yea"16 Carnival Hits (Ice) 1968 Kitchener "Miss Tourist"Play Mas' With Kitch 1967 Kitchener "Sixty Seven" (also won Panorama)16 Carnival Hits (Ice) 1966 Sparrow "Obeah Wedding" (also won Panorama)Calypso Genius Vol.1 1965 Kitchener "My Pussin"Mr. Kitch (RCA Victor) 1964 Kitchener "Mama This Is Mas" (also won Panorama)Lord Kitchener (RCA) 1963 Kitchener "The Road"Klassic Kitchener Vol.2 1962 Lord Blakie "Maria"Trinidad All Time Calypso 1961 Sparrow "Royal Jail"Sparrow The Conqueror 1960 Sparrow "Mae Mae"Calypso King Of Trinidad 1959 Lord Caruso "Run the Gunslingers"Ten For The Road 1958 Sparrow "Pay As You Earn"16 Carnival Hits (Ice) 1957 Lord Christo / Nelson Cato "Chicken Chest" / "Doctor Nelson"Two competitions 1956 Sparrow "Jean and Dinah" (Yankee's Gone)Sparrow's breakout song (1st Road March win) 1955 Obernkirchen Children's Choir "Happy Wanderer" (Valderi, Valdera!)German singalong pop song 1954 Lord Blakie "Steel Band Clash" 1953 Vivian Comma / Spit Fire "Madeline Oye" / "Bow Wow Wow"Two competitions 1952 Spit Fire "Post, Post Another Letter For Thelma" 1951 Mighty Terror "Tiny Davis Blow" 1950 Mighty Killer "In A Calabash" 1949 Lord Wonder "Ramgoat Baptism" 1948 Lord Melody "Canaan Barrow" 1947 King Pharaoh "Portuguese Dance" (Vishki Vashki Voo) 1946 Kitchener "Jump In The Line"Competition re branded;1st official Road March win 1945 World War II (No Official Carnival): Roaring Lion "(All Day All Night,) Mary-Ann"Calypso Carnival (Decca) 1944 World War II (No Official Carnival): King Radio "Brown Skin Girl" 1943 World War II (No Official Carnival): Lord Invader "Rum & Coca Cola"Lord Invader Calypso 1942 World War II (No Official Carnival): Lord Kitchener "Lai Fook Lee"Kitchener's breakout hit song 1941 Lion (aka Roaring Lion) "Whoopsin Whoopsin"5th & final "Leggo" win 1940 Lord Beginner "Run Yuh Run" 1939 King Radio "Mathilda"Rough Guide To Calypso 1938 Lion (aka Roaring Lion) "No Nora Darling"4th consecutive win 1937 Lion (aka Roaring Lion) "Netty Netty"Roaring Lion Sacred 78's 1936 Lion (aka Roaring Lion) "Advantage Could Never Done" 1935 Lion (aka Roaring Lion) "Dingolay Oy"1st official "Leggo" win 1934 Railway Douglas "After Johnny Drink Me Rum" 1933 King Radio "Wash Pan Wash" 1932 King Radio "Tiger Tom Play Tiger Cat"1st official competition, 1st official "Leggo" champ1931King Houdini"Mr. Huggins" (Remake)1930Lord Inveigler"Captain Cipriani"1929Atilla The Hun"Toddy"1928Mentor"Mr. Huggins"1927Atilla The Hun"???" (Song to be confirmed)1926Sam Manning"Camilla"Sam Manning Volume 11925King Houdini"Fire Brigade Water the Road"1924??? (Singer to be confirmed)"Mavis Powder"1923King Houdini"Sly Mongoose"1922Atilla The Hun"Toddy"1921Johnny Walker"Go Way Gal"1920Atilla The Hun"Bigman Sweetman"1918World War I (No Official Carnival)(No winning "Breakaway/Leggo" song)1917World War I (No Official Carnival)(No winning "Breakaway/Leggo" song)1916World War I (No Official Carnival)(No winning "Breakaway/Leggo" song)1915World War I (No Official Carnival)(No winning "Breakaway/Leggo" song)1911Lionel Belasco"Poeme One"1907Lionel Belasco“L'Année Passée“ (English: "Last Year") Interpolates melody from Martiniquan folksong;
Melody also used by Lord Invader in his 1943 hit "Rum & Coca Cola"Sung in Patois & English1906Sophie Mataloney (aka Jamette Matador)"Pauline" (Rework of Guadeloupan folksong)Sung in Patois & English1899Chantwell"Prisonié Lévéz" (Version of 1830s kaiso)Sung in Patois & English1897Chantwell"J'ouvert Band"Sung in Patois & English1834Congo Barra (or other early Calypsonian)"Point De Six Ans" (English: "No Six Years")Protest Calypso in Patois
Antigua and Barbuda YearPerformerSongAlbum / Notes2026Ballo"Bang E Line”1st ever RM win 2025Soca Villan"BB Service”2nd RM win2024Yung Vice & Newgen Band"Gravity Falls”1st ever RM win 2023Ricardo Drue/ Psycho, Empress, Soca Villan/ Claudette Peters (TIE)"Last Man Standing" ”Let It Rain” ”Nat U”Three-way tie; each receiving 25 plays2022Lyricks Man"How Ma Sound"2021No CarnivalCOVID-192020No CarnivalCOVID-192019Low Rider"Fish Dance" 2018 Red Hot Nation "Gallop" 2017 Claudette CP Peters "Out Deh"First Female Winner 2016 Tian Winter "In De Middle" 2015 Boasta "Ole time Something" 2014 Menace "Fete Me Ah Fete" 2013 Ezzy Rattigan "Golden Cup" 2012 Burning Flames "Kick Een She Back Door" 2011 Hard Knaxx "KFC (Kentucky)" 2010 Burning Flames "Bullbud" 2009 Red Hot Flames "Trademark" 2008 Red Hot Flames "Musical Bomb" 2007 Burning Flames "Papi" 2006 Red Hot Flames "Trouble" 2005 Burning Flames "De Harder Dey Come" 2004 Burning Flames "Road Rage" 2003 Burning Flames "Rush" 2002 Wanskie "More Gyal" 2001 High Intensity "Ole Time Something" 2000 Calypso Jim "Exercise" 1999 Burning Flames "I Command You" 1998 Burning Flames "Sweet Song" 1997 Onyan "Crazy Man" 1996 Burning Flames "Fire Unda Me Foot" 1995 Burning Flames "Gym Jam" 1994 Vision Band ft Eddie Mello "Dress Back" 1993 Burning Flames "Wet Down De Place" 1992 Burning Flames "Donkey" 1991 Burning Flames "Piece of Iron" 1990 Burning Flames "Congo Man" 1989 Burning Flames "Workey Workey" 1988 Lion "Bad Girl" 1987 Short Shirt "J'Ouvert Rhythm" 1986 Burning Flames "Rudeness Mek Me" 1985 Burning Flames "Stylie Tight" 1984 Swallow "Satan Coming Down" 1983 Swallow "Party In Space" 1982 Short Shirt "Push" 1981 Redding "Up and Jumping" 1980 Short Shirt "Summer Festival" 1979 Short Shirt "Kangaroo Jam" 1978 Short Shirt "Benna Music" 1977 La Tumba "Supa Jam" 1976 Short Shirt "Tourist Leggo" 1975 Swallow "Shake and Break You Bam Bam" 1974 Short Shirt "Lucinda" 1973 Swallow "Push Ya, Push Dy" 1972 Swallow "Pow Pow" 1971 Razor Blade "Shake You Waist" 1970 Calypso Joe "Bum Bum"
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