Biography
Who is Calypso Rose?
Early life and background
Calypso Rose was born Linda McCartha Monica Sandy-Lewis on April 27, 1940, in Bethel Village, Tobago. Her mother, Dorchea Sandy, had thirteen children in total, and Rose was the fourth child born. Her father, Altino Sandy, worked as a fisherman and served as a leader in the Spiritual Shouter Baptists church. During her childhood, she lived in a two-bedroom home with her parents and ten siblings. At age nine, she relocated to the island of Trinidad to live with her aunt, Edith Robinson, and her uncle.
Growing up in Tobago, she was exposed to the island's musical traditions early on. Her grandmother, who had roots in French Guinea, shared stories about her own past that influenced Rose. While her family was traditional and initially disapproved of her interest in performing in Carnival tents, she pursued music despite their concerns. She later recalled that her father often claimed that calypso music belonged to the devil.
Career and musical rise
She began writing songs at age 13 and eventually composed over 1000 tracks. In her early career, she performed under the name Crusoe Kid before managers at the Young Brigade calypso tent renamed her Calypso Rose. She started singing in tents in the 1950s, performing in places like Grenada, St. Vincent, and the US Virgin Islands. Lord Kitchener, a prominent calypsonian, recognized her talent early and became a major supporter of her work.
Her music frequently addressed social justice issues. Her song No Madam, which criticized labor exploitation, helped influence the government of Trinidad and Tobago to establish a minimum wage for civil servants. She also found success with songs like Fire in Meh Wire, which was translated into eight languages, and Tempo, which she wrote while riding the New York subway. She later became the first female winner of the Road March title and the Calypso Monarch competition.
Collaborations and later work
Throughout her career, she worked with many artists across different genres. In 1967, she performed with Bob Marley in New York City and Miami. In 2016, she released the album Far From Home, which featured collaborations with Manu Chao. The album included tracks like Leave Me Alone and Human Race. She has also collaborated with artists such as Machel Montano, Kobo Town, and Nailah Blackman on various projects.
She has faced several health challenges, including breast cancer in 1996 and stomach cancer in 1998, as well as diabetes and heart issues that required a pacemaker. Despite these obstacles, she continued to perform and release music. In October 2019, she released a new EP titled Calypso Rose & Friends, which featured a mix of English and Spanish lyrics aimed at encouraging women to dance and express themselves freely.
Personal life and activism
After moving to Queens, New York, in the mid-1970s, she used the city as a base for her international touring. She identifies as a lesbian and revealed in an interview at age 72 that she had been married to a woman for 17 years. She has been an activist for various causes and served as a UNICEF Goodwill Ambassador for former child soldiers. She continues to maintain a connection to her home country, regularly returning to Trinidad and Tobago between her travels.
Birthday and age
Calypso Rose was born on April 27, 1940, which makes Calypso 86 years old today. That birthday falls under the Taurus sign. Calypso shares the date with 59 other famous people.
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