Calypso Rose, born Linda McCartha Monica Sandy-Lewis, grew up in a small village on the island of Tobago, one of the two Caribbean islands forming the Republic of Trinidad & Tobago, birthplace of calypso, one of the most popular style of music in the world.
Her father was a preacher and a leader of the Spiritual Shouter Baptists. Her family was very traditional and opposed her singing in Carnival tents. She composed her first calypso in 1955 after seeing a man steal the show from two women performing on a stage: this was the earliest calypso written on gender inequality.
Travelling outside of Trinidad & Tobago for the first time in 1963, Rose covered the Caribbean islands from Grenada to St. Thomas. She won the Calypso King contest in St. Thomas with her first recording, Cooperation. This was the first time a woman had ever been awarded the title. She was the subject of a documentary (”Calypso Rose, Lioness in the Jungle”) in 2011.
In 2015 French singer Manu Chao discovered her work and decided to help out with the production of her new album, in which he is featured on three song. The album was produced by Ivan Duran for Maturity/Stonetree Music. A compilation, ”Calypso Soundsystem feat. Calypso Rose, Queen of Calypso for 40 years!”, was released by label Because Music (Major Lazer, Manu Chao, Selah Sue, Christine and the Queens, Justice) in 2016. Rose released her album, Far from Home, in June 2016. Since she has extensivly toured France, Europe and Northern Africa with the french touring agent Azimuth Productions.
The album won the 2017 World Music Album of the Year prize at French music award ceremony Les Victoires de la Musique. She was awarded in Spain the title of Womex artist of the year ,a first for a caribbean artist. Also In 2017 the album was awarded Platinum sale status in France, a premiere for any artist from Trinidad and Tobago. Her single “Leave Me alone” featuring Machel Montano was a hit of Trinidad and Tobago Carnival 2017 ,an anthem picked up by groups marching to curb Violence against women. The song was released in the US by Mad Decent (Major Lazer label).
Calypso Rose released “Calypso Blues” in 2018, the great cover of the jazzman and songwritter Nat King Cole.
US Tour Dates :
4/5 @ Le Poisson Rouge, New York, NY – with Kobo Town
4/12 @ Coachella, CA
4/19 @ Coachella, CA
