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Calypso Rose, the premier ambassador of Caribbean music.
The heart and soul of the Caribbean Having shared her enormous talent with audiences
all over the world, Calypso Rose is the premier ambassador of Caribbean music. Rose
began her illustrious career at the age of 15 in the village of Bethel on the beautiful Caribbean
island of Tobago. As a woman in a male arena, She challenged the world with her music.
In 1966, Rose wrote the immortal Fire In Me Wire, a song which has become a Calypso anthem. It has
been recorded in eight languages and is still the first Calypso to be sung for two consecutive
years at the annual carnival competition in Trinidad and Tobago. For five years Rose outclassed
the competition to win the national ;Calypso Queen title in Trinidad and Tobago. During this
time she kept knocking on the doors of the male dominated Calypso King competition.
In 1978, those doors finally opened! With the powerful lyrics of I Thank Thee and Her Majesty, Rose
was awarded the newly renamed Calypso Monarch title from a star studded field of
the best competitors of the day. That year she also won the Road March title the
More Tempo. To date, Calypso Rose still holds the distinction of being the only woman
to win either title, placing her in a class by herself.Included in her volumes
of music are themes varied as the waves she created. She has composed such political commentaries
as The Balance Wheel and Respect the Balisay; has got us jammin’ to such party songs and rhythms
as Do Dem Back and The Action Is Tight; has raised our awareness of current conditions in Gun Play
On The Parkway and Help; has taken a stand on women’s rights in No Madam; and has enamored us with songs
such as You Can’t Buy Love. Calypso Rose is still expanding her horizons, as her 1994 album, Soca
Diva, illustrates, the Mother of Calypso, Rose fuses the rhythms and melodies of Africa, Central
America, and the Caribbean into a sweet and oh so spicy bouquet. Besides being a vibrant and exciting
performer and composer, Rose’s world-wide recognition has made her one of the most awarded and honored
figures of the Caribbean music scene.
ARTICLE: COMBINED T&T REPORTS |
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