From Trinidad Express

Though she was barely able to walk because of gout, Calypso Rose was still able to woo her audience, as Brooklyn paid tribute to the Tobago-born singer who “broke the glass ceiling” in the calypso genre.

“This woman, sometimes I sit and wonder what got that woman to sing calypso in the 1950s and survive,” said popular Grenada-born radio personality Harold Pysadee, one of the masters of ceremonies at the grand tribute in honour of Calypso Rose, 74, renowned as the “Calypso Queen of the World”.

“Every woman you see singing calypso today is because of Calypso Rose,” added Pysadee at the event organised by the Brooklyn-based Dee Vee International Productions, headed by the Grenada-born entertainment producer Derek Ventour. “Calypso Rose has set the pace,” said Pysadee making reference to Rose’s attainment of an honorary doctorate from the University of the West Indies (UWI). “[Calypso] Rose is a Caribbean lady first of all.

Bronx-based Gus White, a former announcer with the now defunct Montserrat-based Radio Antilles, said he was “honoured to be part of this function” that honored Calypso Rose. “Dr McArtha Lewis, Calypso Rose, for what you have done, I’m truly grateful,” he said, while the Trinidad and Tobago-born radio announcer, Dave Elcock, also gave his “heartfelt congratulations to our beloved McArtha Lewis, the indomitable Calypso Rose” Elcock said Calypso Rose has won “countless” fans and over 23 awards, over the years, for her catchy songs, including the, evergreen, signature “Fire, Fire”.

Elcock, who sat next to Rose, during the near three-hour-long event, noted that she was the first female to win the Trinidad and Tobago Road March competition.

“This is the spirit that we lionise today,” he said. Noting that the Caribbean community, the single largest population of Caribbean people outside of the islands, is “critical to every sector of our city’s life”, New York City Mayor Bill deBlasio said the tribute was “a wonderful opportunity to celebrate one of its most creative and trailblazing artists. “By sharing the transcendent spirit, rich sounds and contagious rhythms of Trinidad and Tobago, Calypso Rose has given the world a great gift,” said deBlasio in his message. “I applaud her extraordinary talent and distinguished legacy, which enriches lives throughout the five boroughs and well beyond. “On behalf of the City of New York, Chirlane (his wife) and I offer our congratulations to Calypso Rose for receiving an honorary doctorate from the University of the West Indies, and extend our best wishes for a joyful celebration and continued success uniting the world through song,” the mayor added.

The Rev Dennis Dillon, the Jamaican-born pastor and founder of the Brooklyn Christian Center, said he was “grateful” for Calypso Rose’s leadership, her inspirational spirit and for doing what few people have done.

“Many people at the Christian Center they dance to your music all the time,” he said, telling the singer “we salute you for your inspiration to all of us. “I’m not saying that we shouldn’t say Calypso Rose, but its Dr McArtha Lewis you’ all,” added Rev Dillon, alluding to the recent honorary doctorate recently conferred on Calypso Rose by UWI.

Among others paying tribute in songs, speeches, dances, instruments and poems included the The Brooklyn-based Ujamma Pan Sounds; Carriacou, Grenada-born calypsonian Blackman, lead singer of the Brooklyn-based band, Lambert & the Matadors; former Grenadian calypsonian-turned-gospel singer Janice Charles; Vincentian Collin Connell; Grenadian calypsonian Lady Samo; Calypso Rose’s granddaughter Arianna Butler (dance); Ziad Garraway (poetry); and Jude Phillip and Joe Allert (trumpeter and saxophonist, respectively).

“Last week, I couldn’t walk. Thank God for bush medicine,” said Calypso Rose before belching out hits from her diverse repertoire, as well as contemporary gospel and Christmas songs, referring to the medicine that helped her recover from a bout of gout. “Thank God for giving me the inspiration for writing my songs,” she added.

Rose then rocked the house with some of her tunes, including “Jesus is My Rock,” “You Must Call,” “Coming up the Mountain,” “Senior Citizen Day,” “Fire, Fire and “O Christmas”.

She brought down the house with a medley of religious songs including “What a Friend We Have in Jesus, “Jesus Meek and Gentle,” “Leaning on the Everlasting Arm” and Anchor Hold” among others.

Last Sunday, she told patrons that she has been booked for performances in Canada and will tour France and England in March. To date, Calypso Rose said she has written “well over 800 songs”.

In 2011, a feature-length documentary, entitled “Calypso Rose: The Lioness of the Jungle”, was released at Cannes Film Festival in France. Directed by Pascale Obolo, the documentary tells Calypso Rose’s story through interviews and live concert footage, among others. “I saw the event as a celebration, not just for her achievement from the University of the West Indies but for recognising her role in exposing this unique Caribbean culture throughout the world,”

Ventour told the Caribbean Media Corporation (CMC) about the Tribute to Calypso Rose. “She led the way for women to get involved in the art form, and we need to recognize her for all her efforts. So the tribute was all about celebrating her contribution to the growth of Caribbean Music,” he added.

—CMC

Calypso legend

Born in Bethel, a small village in Tobago, Rose began singing at 15, and while she had garnered a number of regional hits throughout the years, including her most famous, “Fire, Fire,” in 1966, she did not win any of the major calypso contests until 1977. That year, she was the first woman ever to win the Trinidad and Tobago Road March competition with the tune “Tempo”. A year later, she won the National Calypso King Competition—later re-named National Calypso Monarch competition- with her tunes “I Thank Thee” and “Her Majesty”.

That same year, Rose won the Trinidad Road March Competition for the second successive year, with “Gimme More Tempo”.

Calypso Rose has headlined at major venues and festivals throughout the United States, Europe and Australia. As of 2011, she is the most decorated calypsonian in Trinidad and Tobago’s history, and was awarded the Trinidad and Tobago Hummingbird Medal—Gold, an award given to Trinidadians “for loyal and devoted service beneficial to the state in any field, or acts of gallantry”.

In 2014, she received an honorary doctorate from UWI. Though Calypso Rose moved to Jamaica Queens, New York in 1983, she returns to Trinidad and Tobago for Carnival annually.

In 1996, she battled and beat breast cancer. She continues to tour regularly on multiple continents, and records music.

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