Profiles: Heroes, Role Models and Pioneers of Trinidad and Tobago - by Nasser Khan

76 CALYPSO ROSE (MCCARTHA LINDA SANDY-LEWIS) (1940- ) B orn into a large family in Tobago, she was sent to live with an aunt in Trinidad when she was nine years old. However, while growing up in Tobago, she had begun singing calypsoes and her interest in singing continued while attending school in Trinidad. In 1957, she began her calypso career at the Original Young Brigade Tent and went on to become the first female calypsonian to win a national title when she took the Road March Crown in 1977 with Tempo. She returned in 1978 to take both the Calypso Crown (Her Majesty and I Thank Thee) and the Road March title (Soca Jam) thus becoming the first calypsonian to win both crowns in the same year. Because of her success, the name of the title was changed from Calypso King to Calypso Monarch in 1978. She has appeared in shows with famous American entertainers such as Michael Jackson, Harry Belafonte, and Roberta Flack. Rose’s career has taken her throughout the world and she frequently performs in T&T especially during the carnival season. A T&T postage stamp bears her photo. She has written over 800 songs and recorded over 20 albums. • 1975: British Empire Medal of Merit Class II; Trinidad & Tobago Public Service Medal of Merit Silver • 1986: Citizens of Liberia Humanitarian Award • 1989: Sunshine Music Award (for Calypso and Steelband) • 1991: Outstanding Female in the Field of Music Award by the National Woman’s Action Committee; Most Outstanding Woman in Trinidad and Tobago by the National Women’s Action Committee • 2000: Humming Bird Medal Gold • 2006: Caribbean American Heritage Award • 2011: Africa Festival Lifetime Achievement Award Note: Denyse Plummer (1954- ) too has become an icon in the calypso arena among our female artistes.