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Cerys takes listeners on a global journey of discovery with music of all genres and eras.

Cerys Matthews celebrates music of all genres and eras, taking listeners on a global journey of discovery from the recordings of early pioneers to latter-day luminaries.

BBC Music on the World Service with Cerys Matthews: Calypso Rose

Discussion & Talk

08/09/2018 GMT

Calypso Rose

BBC World Service - BBC Music on the World Service with Cerys Matthews, Calypso Rose

Cerys's guest is Caribbean cultural icon and prolific recording artist Calypso Rose.

Cerys's guest is Calypso Rose, who wrote her first hit song, "Glass Thief" at the age of 15. By the time she turned professional in 1964, she had been dubbed Calypso Rose.

A feminist pioneer, Caribbean cultural icon and prolific recording artist who’s written over 800 songs in over half a century, it’s more than 40 years since Calypso Rose was first crowned calypso queen. She first won the annual Trinidad Road March, the top honour awarded to the song played most often at the judging points along the parade route during carnival, with 1975’s "Do Dem Back"; but in the male-dominated world of calypso, the title was stripped from her and given to Kitchener instead. Undeterred she was back in 1977 when she won again with "Give Me More Tempo"—and this time she was allowed to keep the prize. At the following year’s carnival her song "Come Leh We Jam" won the ‘Calypso King’ competition, forcing the organisers to change the title to ‘Calypso Monarch’ in her honour. On her new album, So Calypso!, the 78 year-old Tobagonian with 22 albums under her belt decided to pay tribute to the artists who influenced her musical career and her life: Nat King Cole, Aretha Franklin, The Melodians and Angelique Kidjo. From America, Jamaica or Benin, they all inspired the most senior female Calypso artist to combine black music and social activism from the start of her career in the 1960’s.

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