Carnival Road March
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. Popular Unofficial Road Marches have also been recognized in T&T from 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 vocalised by local Trinidad & Tobago artistes. The Road March title is among the most prestigious in Trinidad Carnival. The most such titles have gone to the late Lord Kitchener with eleven wins, ahead of Super Blue with ten wins, Machel Montano also 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 and the very first foreign soca artiste to win the prestigious Trinidad & Tobago Road March title with a song called "Famalay" which was vocalised 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 Patios.| Year | Performer | Song | Album / Notes |
| 2020 | Neil “Iwer” George & Kees Dieffenthaller | “Stage Gone Bad" ' | 2nd & 1st T&T RM wins |
| 2019 | Skinny 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 wins |
| 2017 | Ultimate Rejects featuring MX Prime | "Full Extreme" | |
| 2016 | Machel Montano | "Waiting On the Stage" | Monk Evolution |
| 2015 | Machel Montano | "Like Ah Boss" ' | Monk Monte |
| 2014 | Machel Montano | "Ministry Of Road" ' | Happiest Man Alive |
| 2013 | Superblue | "Fantastic Friday" ' | Soca Gold 2013 |
| 2012 | Machel Montano | "Pump Yuh Flag" ' | Double M |
| 2011 | Machel Montano | "Advantage" ' | The Return |
| 2010 | JW & Blaze | "Palance" ' | Monkey Steak Play Soca |
| 2009 | Fay-Ann Lyons | "Meet Super Blue" ' | |
| 2008 | Fay-Ann Lyons | "Get On" | Best Of Best Soca 2008 |
| 2007 | Machel Montano | "Jumbie" | Book of Angels |
| 2006 | Machel Montano & Patrice Roberts | "Band Of De Year" | B.O.D.Y. |
| 2005 | Shurwayne Winchester | "Dead or Alive" | |
| 2004 | Shurwayne Winchester | "The Band Coming" | Press Play |
| 2003 | Fay-Ann Lyons | "Display" | Soca Gold 2003 |
| 2002 | Naya George | "Trinidad" | Soca Gold 2002 |
| 2001 | Shadow aka Mighty Shadow | "Stranger" ' | Shadow - Just For You |
| 2000 | Superblue / Iwer George | "Pump Up" / "Carnival Come Back Again" | Soca Matrix / Iwer & Family |
| 1999 | Sanell Dempster | "De River" | Blue Ventures 1999 |
| 1998 | Wayne Rodriguez | "Footsteps" | Charge |
| 1997 | Machel Montano | "Big Truck" | Heavy Duty |
| 1996 | Nigel Lewis | "Moving" | Performed live with his brother Marvin Lewis |
| 1995 | Super Blue | "Signal For Lara" | Happy Carnival |
| 1994 | Preacher | "Jump and Wave" | Rattlesnake Wine |
| 1993 | Super Blue | "Bacchanal Time" ' | Bacchanal Time |
| 1992 | Super Blue | "Jab Jab" | In The Power |
| 1991 | Super Blue | "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 |
| 1984 | Sparrow | "Don't Back Back" | King Of The World |
| 1983 | Blue Boy | "Rebecca" | Superman |
| 1982 | Penguin | "Deputy" | Life Is A Lollipop |
| 1981 | Blue Boy | "Ethel" | Soca In Shaolin Temple |
| 1980 | Blue Boy | "Soca Baptist" | Blueboy's breakout song |
| 1979 | Poser | "Ah Tell She" | 2nd soca to win RM |
| 1978 | Calypso Rose | "Come Leh We Jam" | Her Majesty Calypso Rose |
| 1977 | Calypso Rose | "Give More Tempo" | Action Is Tight |
| 1976 | Kitchener | "Flag Woman" | Kitch: Home For Carnival |
| 1975 | Kitchener | "Tribute to Spree" | Carnival Fever In Kitch |
| 1974 | Shadow | "Bass Man" | Bass Man LP |
| 1973 | Kitchener | "Rain-O-Rama" | We Walk 100 Miles |
| 1972 | Sparrow | "Drunk and Disorderly" | Hotter Than Ever |
| 1971 | Kitchener | "Mas' At Madison" | Curfew Time With Kitch |
| 1970 | Kitchener | "Margie" | Sock It To Me Kitch |
| 1969 | Sparrow | "Sa Sa Yea" | 16 Carnival Hits |
| 1968 | Kitchener | "Miss Tourist" | Play Mas' With Kitch |
| 1967 | Kitchener | "Sixty Seven" | 16 Carnival Hits |
| 1966 | Sparrow | "Obeah Wedding" | Calypso Genius Vol.1 |
| 1965 | Kitchener | "My Pussin" | Mr. Kitch |
| 1964 | Kitchener | "Mama This Is Mas" | Lord Kitchener |
| 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 | "May May" | Calypso King Of Trinidad |
| 1959 | Lord Caruso | "Run the Gunslingers" | Ten For The Road |
| 1958 | Sparrow | "Pay As You Earn" | 16 Carnival Hits |
| 1957 | Lord Christo / Nelson Cato | "Chicken Chest" / "Doctor Nelson" | Two competitions |
| 1956 | Sparrow | "Jean and Dinah" | Sparrow's breakout song |
| 1955 | Obernkirchen Children's Choir | "Happy Wanderer" | 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 or King Radio | "Canaan Barrow" or "Who Dead Canaan?" | To confirm correct winner |
| 1947 | King Pharaoh | "Portuguese Dance" | |
| 1946 | Kitchener | "Jump In The Line" | Competition re branded;1st official Road March win |
| 1945 | World War II : Roaring Lion | " Mary-Ann" | Calypso Carnival |
| 1944 | World War II : King Radio | "Brown Skin Girl" | |
| 1943 | World War II : Lord Invader | "Rum & Coca Cola" | Lord Invader Calypso |
| 1942 | World War II : Lord Kitchener | "Green Fig" | Kitchener's breakout song |
| 1941 | Lion | "Whoopsin Whoopsin" | 5th & final "Leggo" win |
| 1940 | Lord Beginner | "Run Yuh Run" | |
| 1939 | King Radio | "Mathilda" | Rough Guide To Calypso |
| 1938 | Lion | "No Nora Darling" | 4th consecutive win |
| 1937 | Lion | "Netty Netty" | Roaring Lion Sacred 78's |
| 1936 | Lion | "Advantage Could Never Done" | |
| 1935 | 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" champ |
| 1931 | King Houdini | "Mr. Huggins" | |
| 1930 | Inveigler | "Captain Cipriani" | |
| 1928 | Mentor | "Mr. Huggins" | |
| 1927 | Atilla The Hun | "???" | |
| 1926 | Sam Manning | "Camilla" | Sam Manning Volume 1 |
| 1925 | King Houdini | "Fire Brigade Water the Road" | |
| 1924 | ??? | "Mavis Powder" | |
| 1923 | King Houdini | "Sly Mongoose" | |
| 1922 | Atilla The Hun | "Toddy" | |
| 1921 | Johnny Walker | "Go Way Gal" | |
| 1920 | Atilla The Hun | "Bigman Sweetman" | |
| 1918 | World War I | ||
| 1917 | World War I | ||
| 1916 | World War I | ||
| 1915 | World War I | ||
| 1911 | Lionel Belasco | "Poeme One" | |
| 1907 | Lionel Belasco | “L'Année Passée“ Interpolates melody from Martiniquan folksong; Melody also used by Lord Invader in his 1943 hit "Rum & Coca Cola" | Sung in Patios & English |
| 1906 | Sophie Mataloney | "Pauline" | Sung in Patios & English |
| 1899 | Chantwell | "Prisonié Lévéz" | Sung in Patios & English |
| 1897 | Chantwell | "J'ouvert Band" | Sung in Patios & English |
| 1834 | Congo Barra | "Point De Six Ans" | Protest Calypso in Patios |
Antigua and Barbuda
Barbados
Grenada
Grenada Carnival, also known as Spicemas, was founded to celebrate the anniversary of the independence of Grenada, Carriacou, and Petit Martinique, which gained their independence on 7 February 1974. In 1978 Grenada Carnival was moved to the month of May by the Eric Gairy led government but after that government was overthrown in March 1979, the 1979 Carnival celebration was cancelled. In 1980 the new People’s Revolutionary Government led by Maurice Bishop brought back Grenada Carnival, which was held in May that year. After a feasibility study Grenada Carnival was moved to August the following year. Hence annually from 1981 Grenada's Carnival has been held in August culminating with their Road March competition.| Year | Performer | Song | Album / Notes |
| 2019 | Runi J | "Diagnosis" | |
| 2018 | Lil Natty & Thunda | "Get In Your Section" | |
| 2017 | Lil Natty & Thunda | "Top Striker" | |
| 2016 | Lil Natty & Thunda | "Take It To Dem" | |
| 2015 | Synnah | "Jab on Sesame Street" | |
| 2014 | Squeeze Head | "Turbo Charge" | |
| 2013 | Boyzie | "Mas Everywhere" | |
| 2012 | Boyzie | "Born Troublesome" | |
| 2011 | Lavaman | "So We Dey" | |
| 2010 | Otis | "Tornado" | |
| 2009 | Mr. Killa | "Swing It Away" | |
| 2008 | Miney | "10,000 Masqueraders" | |
| 2007 | Berbice | "Traffic" | |
| 2006 | Soca Banton | "Over You Head" | |
| 2005 | Boogie B | "Clear The Smoke" | |
| 2004 | General PP | "Never Say Never" | |
| 2003 | Super P | "Do What You Want" | |
| 2002 | Japs | "Helicopter" | |
| 2001 | Tallpree | "Rags Invasion" | |
| 2000 | Tallpree | "Grave, Jail, Hospital" | |
| 1999 | Sheldon Douglas | "Find Something" | |
| 1998 | Sheldon Douglas | "Stamp Up" | |
| 1997 | Tangler | "Chala Baiti" | |
| 1996 | Tangler | "Bouncing Low" | |
| 1995 | Inspector | "Madness" | |
| 1994 | Inspector | "Sweeter Than Home" | |
| 1993 | Flying Cloud | "Way You Man" | |
| 1992 | Flying Cloud | "Raise You Hand" | |
| 1991 | Moss International | "Jambalesse Rule" | |
| 1990 | Ajamu | "Open Up" | |
| 1989 | Skylark | "Simple Policeman" | |
| 1988 | Black Wizard | "Soca Feeling" | |
| 1987 | Squeezy | "To Cork Ah Hole" | |
| 1986 | Inspector | "No Kicks" | |
| 1985 | Inspector | "Dance" | |
| 1984 | Flying Turkey | "Byron" | |
| 1983 | African Teller | "You Cock Ain’t Dey" | |
| 1982 | Snakey Boy | "Charmaine Darling" | |
| 1981 | Timpo | "We Want We Carnival" |
St. Lucia
Invader has won the Road March in St. Lucia seven times. In a period from 1970-1972 and again from 1974-1976, Road March winners were imported from Trinidad and Tobago.| Year | Performer | Song | Album / Notes |
| 2019 | Edwin George | "Call My Mother For Me" | |
| 2018 | Krome Ft Nassis | "Bend Dong For De Hmm" | |
| 2017 | Ricky T | "Sully" | |
| 2016 | Mac 11 | "Padnas" | |
| 2015 | Ricky T & Superman HD | "Perfect Storm" | |
| 2014 | J Mouse | "Hurt It" | |
| 2013 | Ricky T | "Mass Attack" | |
| 2012 | Soca Syco | "Gallop" | |
| 2011 | Ricky T | "Mad Ting" | |
| 2010 | DJ HP | "Pa Mele” | |
| 2009 | Ricky T | "Like a Jumbie" | |
| 2008 | Ricky T | "Wheel & Come Again" | |
| 2007 | Ricky T | "Pressure Boom" | |
| 2006 | Ricky T / Vertex Band | "Bring Your Container" / "My Pressure Up" | |
| 2005 | Nicole David | "Queen of the Jungle " | |
| 2004 | Alpha | "Down De Road" | |
| 2003 | X Man | "Pee Pee In Me Poo Poo" | |
| 2002 | Invader | "Bo Bee Wia Wea" | |
| 2001 | Invader | "Be Le Lesh" | |
| 2000 | Rootsy | "Hillary" | |
| 1999 | Invader | "Take My Money" | |
| 1998 | Jaunty | "Military Jam" | |
| 1997 | Twop Chance | "Hospital Burning" | |
| 1996 | Jaunty | "Bobolist'" | |
| 1995 | Jaunty | "We Shall Hop" | |
| 1994 | Stylist Black | "Okay Okay" | |
| 1993 | Jaunty | "Oh La Lay" | |
| 1992 | Invader | "Vievxe Nomme Sa La" | |
| 1991 | Invader / Buffalo | "Wine Down William Peter" / ”Manje” | |
| 1990 | Translator | "Ninja" | |
| 1989 | Educator | "Calypso Tyson" | |
| 1988 | Chippy | "One Bad Prick" | |
| 1987 | Inspector Red | "Zodi Zodi" | |
| 1986 | Ashanti | "Sufferer’s Song" | |
| 1985 | Invader | "Carnal Knowledge" | |
| 1984 | Shakey | "Twavay Mwen Vle" | |
| 1983 | Invader | "Yellow Man" | |
| 1982 | Get Through | "What De People Chanting" | |
| 1981 | Educator | "Mon Kon Arrow" | |
| 1980 | Jackson | "Guy Love Dance" | |
| 1979 | Barrie | "Sailor In The Band” | |
| 1978 | Pelay | "Sweet Suzette" | |
| 1977 | Prince | "Doh Smoke Dope" | |
| 1973 | Desper | "Popham ‘72" | |
| 1969 | Pelay | "Jump, Jump, Jump" |
St. Vincent
Saint Kitts and Nevis
Saint Thomas, US Virgin Islands
The Jam Band, formerly Eddie and the Movements has won the Road March Title a record 21 times.| Year | Performer | Song | Album / Notes |
| 2019 | Pressure Buss Pipe | "Do It & Done" | |
| 2018 | Spectrum Band | "Cyah Mash Up Carnival" | |
| 2017 | Spectrum Band | "My Life" | |
| 2016 | Spectrum Band | "I Don't Care" | |
| 2015 | Spectrum Band | "Left Right Stop Wukup" | |
| 2014 | Spectrum Band / Volume International XL | "Manners" / "Recipe" | |
| 2013 | Spectrum Band | "Wake Up To Wuk Up" | |
| 2012 | Spectrum Band | "V.I. Party" | |
| 2011 | Spectrum Band | "Boom" | |
| 2010 | Spectrum Band | "Kallaloo" | |
| 2009 | Jam Band | "Sickness" | |
| 2008 | JDPP Jammerz | "Bedrock" | |
| 2007 | JDPP Jammerz | "Bunny Train" | |
| 2006 | Whadablee | "Steel Pan Comin Up Deh Road" | |
| 2005 | Jam Band | "How To Take De Road" | |
| 2004 | Jam Band | "Soldiers" | |
| 2003 | Jam Band | "Jockey" | |
| 2002 | Alwyn Baptiste Jr & Pat Raguette of the Xpress Band | "Happy Birthday Carnival" | |
| 2001 | Jam Band | "Tear Down De Roof" | |
| 2000 | Jam Band | "Inspection Lane" | |
| 1999 | Jam Band | "Iron" | |
| 1998 | Whadablee | "This One is for Milo" | |
| 1997 | Jam Band | "Road Runner" | |
| 1996 | Jam Band | "Time For Wuk" | |
| 1995 | Jam Band | "Man Terrible" | |
| 1994 | Jam Band | "Showtime" | |
| 1993 | Jam Band | "Possessed" | |
| 1992 | Imaginations Brass | "All Out Posse" | |
| 1991 | Jam Band | "Let Loose" | |
| 1990 | Jam Band | "Horse Chip" | |
| 1989 | Eddie and the Movements | "We Run Things" | |
| 1988 | Eddie and the Movements | "Kool Um Down" | |
| 1987 | Eddie and the Movements | "Legal" | |
| 1986 | Eddie and the Movements | "Lamboushay" | |
| 1985 | Eddie and the Movements | "Pepper" | |
| 1984 | Eddie and the Movements | "Tramping Style" | |
| 1983 | Mandingo Brass | "Traffic Tight" | |
| 1982 | Mandingo Brass | "Off Man Jam" | |
| 1981 | Eddie and the Movements | "Backbone" | |
| 1980 | Dread Ones | "Hey Hey Hey" | |
| 1979 | Mandingo Brass | "Man For She" | |
| 1978 | Ellie Matt and the G.I. Brass / Mandingo Brass | "Shang Shang / Winey Eva Mae" |