Born and raised in Plymouth, Tobago, Nelson went to the United States after graduating from high school, hoping for a better life in Brooklyn.
[2] Back in America, he began singing with West Indian steel bands in Brooklyn, covering calypso hits in his original fashion, much appreciated by the Caribbean community.
While he was not the first to make soca music, he found a great deal of popularity, and won the title of Uncrowned King in a competition for off-island artists at Trinidad's annual Carnival in 1989.
He is credited with giving nine-year-old Machel Montano an opening slot to perform at his show in Paris, singing “Too Young to Soca”.
[1] On July 30, 2022 (age 91) he performed at the Friends of Lord Nelson tribute concert at Queen's Hall, St Ann's (Trinidad).