All Rounder celebrates 52 years of marriage

On Easter Sunday, one of the country’s most loved calypso artistes celebrated a very personal achievement. Anthony Hendrickson, also known as All Rounder celebrated 52 years of marriage to his long time partner, Wilma, who he fondly refers to as mama. The couple who has five children together has been a part of the local music community for the past 45 years. Wilma stood firmly beside her husband, even penning a number of his calypso hits and sharing in the glory of his triumphs.

The word love
In the past three years, All Rounder has proven quite consistent. In 2010, he delivered a single called Dive, which proved an immediate sensation among true calypso fans. One year later in 2011, he showed his ability to roll with the young entertainers of the Soca fraternity when he struck hard with the song, Body Wine. This past season he came again with Garlic Sauce, a track that epitomised true Trini humour and left anyone who caught his stage act, in stitches with laughter. Amid it all, he has stood fast to his values, putting family first and telling anyone who asks of the secret to his success, that his family is truly what makes it all that it is. “Marriage is all love and right now we need more love in marriages. We need understanding. From a youth growing up and seeing certain things with men, I always wondered how you could be so in love with a nice lady this week and then after two or three weeks, like you ain’t love her again,” said Hendrickson.

“I think that love should grow stronger with every passing day, week, year,” All Rounder lamented that after careful observation of today’s society, he had realised that the word love was often carelessly used.
“Love today passing like a quick pick,” he said. The Port-of-Spain resident who met his wife years ago in Success Village, Laventille, said when he looked at Mrs Hendrickson today, he felt the same way he did years ago. “I met my wife in 1956 and you had to go talk to the parents and you had to say good afternoon and bow, and I think that after all that hard work, you should be able to truly enjoy,” he said with a chuckle.
“I have two granddaughters and I want the young women out there to know that they have to respect themselves for the men to respect them,” he advised. He called on today’s women to walk with their heads up.

Learning from his wife  
Saying that open confessions are good for the soul, All Rounder highlighted that he had learnt a lot from his wife over the years. He said she had taught him how to be calm and admitted that he had come from the East Dry River neighbourhood known then as Shanty Town and when he had met his wife he learnt how to be polite and humble. He added that he was very proud of his four daughters and son and went on to share his belief in the power of family prayer, saying that no matter what a family endures, prayer is powerful and could heal any problem.

Elated by the success of his marriage over the years, Hendrickson said he looked forward to spending the rest of his life with his wife and his family. His career still on the upswing, All Rounder told us that he’s gearing up for a trip to Boston in the week ahead. He said his second daughter, Shirlane, had been responsible for organising everything where the management of his career was concerned, and for this he was extremely thankful. Amid his career accomplishments, the calypsonian who continues to impress, gives thanks for family and holds his wife and children close, promising to always do good by them in all that he does.