19 Facts About Calypso Rose

Calypso Rose started writing songs at the age of 13; over the years, she has composed more than 1000 songs and recorded more than 20 albums.

Calypso Rose has received every award available to living artists in the Caribbean.

Calypso Rose was born with the name Linda McCartha Monica Sandy-Lewis.

Calypso Rose's mother gave her this name as an homage a respectable army general by the name of Douglas MacArthur.

Calypso Rose grew up in the small village of Bethel on the island of Tobago, one of the two Caribbean islands forming Trinidad and Tobago and the birthplace of calypso.

Calypso Rose was the fourth child to be born by her mother, Dorchea Sandy, who had a total of thirteen children, two of which passed away.

Calypso Rose's father, Altino Sandy, was a leader of the Spiritual Shouter Baptists.

Calypso Rose's family was very traditional and were initially opposed to her singing in Carnival tents; her father saying that "calypso belongs to the devil" She lived with her parents and her ten siblings in a two-bedroom house until she was nine-years-old, at which point she went to live with her aunt and uncle on the neighboring island of Trinidad.

Calypso Rose came out in an interview as a lesbian at the age of 72 and was married to woman for 17 years by then.

Calypso Rose's health was not always in its best form as she faced and survived breast cancer in 1996, stomach cancer in 1998, diabetes, and two heart attacks which was solved by a pacemaker.

Calypso Rose began singing at calypso tents in the 1950s at the age of 15 going against her harsh critics, and had the opportunity to perform in different places from Grenada, St Vincent to the US Virgin Islands.

Calypso Rose knew Lord Kitchener from the age of 9 and he was known for his influence on many young calypso singers because of the songs he would make.

Calypso Rose recorded for the Brooklyn-based calypso labels Straker's Records and Charlie's Records, and used the city as a base for international touring.

In 1979 Calypso Rose performed in a concert put on by the Colombia's Caribbean Students' Association and was later reviewed by Robert Palmer from the New York Times.

Calypso Rose gave him an early copy of the album which he later mixed and added in his own vocals.

Calypso Rose is still actively writing new music and carries around a tape recorder with her to keep track of her ideas.

Calypso Rose's music, known for its political and social justice narrative, has had significant impact.

Alongside her career in music Calypso Rose was a part of many documentaries including "Calypso at Dirty Jim's", and "Calypso Rose, Lioness in the Jungle".

In 2019, Rose performed at Coachella, marking the first time a calypso performer played a full set at the festival.