Black Stalin
Encyclopedia
Black Stalin is a leading calypsonian
.
Born in San Fernando
, Trinidad and Tobago
, to George and Elcina Calliste ,He is one of four children. Stalin began singing calypso
in 1959, but did not join a calypso tent
until 1962 when he joined the Southern Brigade. In 1967 he joined Kitchener's
Calypso Revue tent and managed to place in that year's Calypso Monarch competition.
Stalin won the Calypso Monarch competition for the first time in 1979 and went on to win it again in 1985, 1987, 1991 and 1995. He attended San Fernando Boys' R.C.
In 1979 he moved over to the Mighty Shadow's King of the Wizards Tent and recorded his first album, "The Caribbean Man". That year he walked away with his first Calypso Monarch crown for his two compositions, "Caribbean Unity" and "Play One".
In 1985 he won the crown again with "Ism Schism" and "Wait Dorothy", and again in 1987 with a tribute to steelband entitled "Mr.Pan Maker" and "Bun Dem" which can be seen as the first in a long line of fire burn songs performed by Rastafarian singers in the Caribbean.
In 1987 he was also awarded the Hummingbird Silver Medal for his contribution to Trinidad and Tobago culture.
In 1991 the usually dread and critical Stalin took a winning turn and walked away with the Calypso Monarch crown again, with "Look on the Bright Side" and "Black man Feeling to Party. In 1995 he went chutney, with a "Tribute to Sundar Popo, in honour of his old friend and fellow singer.
In 1999 he won the title of Calypso King of the World with the calypsoes "Black Man Feeling to Party" and "Wine Boy", poking fun at the politician Dhanraj Singh.
Black Stalin became Dr. Leroy Calliste on October 31, 2008, when he was conferred with an honorary doctorate from the University of the West Indies
, St. Augustine for his tremendous dedication and contribution to Calypso music and culture in Trinidad and Tobago.
Calypsonian
A calypsonian , originally known as the chantwell is a musician, from the Anglophone Caribbean, who sings songs called calypso. Calypsos are musical renditions having their origins in the West African griot tradition...
.
Born in San Fernando
San Fernando, Trinidad and Tobago
The City of San Fernando with a population of 55,419 according to the 2000 census, is the larger of Trinidad and Tobago's two cities and the second largest municipality after Chaguanas. It occupies 18 km² and is located in the southwestern part of the island of Trinidad...
, Trinidad and Tobago
Trinidad and Tobago
Trinidad and Tobago officially the Republic of Trinidad and Tobago is an archipelagic state in the southern Caribbean, lying just off the coast of northeastern Venezuela and south of Grenada in the Lesser Antilles...
, to George and Elcina Calliste ,He is one of four children. Stalin began singing calypso
Calypso music
Calypso is a style of Afro-Caribbean music that originated in Trinidad and Tobago from African and European roots. The roots of the genre lay in the arrival of enslaved Africans, who, not being allowed to speak with each other, communicated through song...
in 1959, but did not join a calypso tent
Calypso tent
Calypso tents are venues in which calypsonians perform during the Carnival season. They usually are cinema halls, community centers, or other indoor buildings which have seating and stage arrangements to host the entertainers, guests and patrons; or outdoor shows which are held in parks or, more...
until 1962 when he joined the Southern Brigade. In 1967 he joined Kitchener's
Lord Kitchener (calypsonian)
Aldwyn Roberts , better known by the stage name Lord Kitchener , was one of the most internationally famous calypsonians. He was the son of a blacksmith, Stephen, and homemaker, Albertha.-Life:...
Calypso Revue tent and managed to place in that year's Calypso Monarch competition.
Stalin won the Calypso Monarch competition for the first time in 1979 and went on to win it again in 1985, 1987, 1991 and 1995. He attended San Fernando Boys' R.C.
In 1979 he moved over to the Mighty Shadow's King of the Wizards Tent and recorded his first album, "The Caribbean Man". That year he walked away with his first Calypso Monarch crown for his two compositions, "Caribbean Unity" and "Play One".
In 1985 he won the crown again with "Ism Schism" and "Wait Dorothy", and again in 1987 with a tribute to steelband entitled "Mr.Pan Maker" and "Bun Dem" which can be seen as the first in a long line of fire burn songs performed by Rastafarian singers in the Caribbean.
In 1987 he was also awarded the Hummingbird Silver Medal for his contribution to Trinidad and Tobago culture.
In 1991 the usually dread and critical Stalin took a winning turn and walked away with the Calypso Monarch crown again, with "Look on the Bright Side" and "Black man Feeling to Party. In 1995 he went chutney, with a "Tribute to Sundar Popo, in honour of his old friend and fellow singer.
In 1999 he won the title of Calypso King of the World with the calypsoes "Black Man Feeling to Party" and "Wine Boy", poking fun at the politician Dhanraj Singh.
Black Stalin became Dr. Leroy Calliste on October 31, 2008, when he was conferred with an honorary doctorate from the University of the West Indies
University of the West Indies
The University of the West Indies , is an autonomous regional institution supported by and serving 17 English-speaking countries and territories in the Caribbean: Anguilla, Antigua and Barbuda, The Bahamas, Barbados, Belize, Bermuda, the British Virgin Islands, the Cayman Islands, Dominica,...
, St. Augustine for his tremendous dedication and contribution to Calypso music and culture in Trinidad and Tobago.
External links
- [ Allmusic]
- Black Stalin Discography