The Calypso Monarch (originally Calypso King) contest is one of the two major annual calypso competitions held in

Trinidad Trinidad is the larger and more populous of the two major islands of Trinidad and Tobago. The island lies off the northeastern coast of Venezuela and sits on the continental shelf of South America. It is often referred to as the southernmos ...

as part of the annual carnival celebrations.

History

While Trinidad's

carnival Carnival is a Catholic Christian festive season that occurs before the liturgical season of Lent. The main events typically occur during February or early March, during the period historically known as Shrovetide (or Pre-Lent). Carnival t ...

has its origins in the 18th century, a singing contest was first held in 1911, when the Jubilee Establishment offered a prize for "the most original song on a local topic".Thompson, Dave (2002) ''Reggae & Caribbean Music'', Backbeat Books, , pp. 4-5 Further competitions were held after

World War I World War I (28 July 1914 11 November 1918), often abbreviated as WWI, was List of wars and anthropogenic disasters by death toll, one of the deadliest global conflicts in history. Belligerents included much of Europe, the Russian Empire, ...

, and the Calypso King contest was first held in 1939. The first winner was Growling Tiger with "Trade Union", followed by

Roaring Lion Roaring Lion (22 February 190811 July 1999) was a Trinidadian calypsonian (calypso singer/composer). His 65-year career began in the early 1930s and he is best known for his compositions "Ugly Woman" (1933), " Mary Ann" and "Netty, Netty", whi ...

in 1940 and

Mighty Destroyer Clifford Morris (died November 1944), better known as Mighty Destroyer, was a Trinidadian calypsonian who won the Calypso King contest in 1941. Hailing from Chaguanas, Mighty Destroyer won the Calypso King title in 1941 with the song "Adolf Hitl ...

in 1941.Winer, Lise (2009) ''Dictionary of the English/Creole of Trinidad and Tobago'', McGill-Queen's University Press, , p. 159 After a break during

World War II World War II or the Second World War, often abbreviated as WWII or WW2, was a world war that lasted from 1939 to 1945. It involved the World War II by country, vast majority of the world's countries—including all of the great power ...

, it resumed in 1946, with

Atilla the Hun Attila (, ; ), frequently called Attila the Hun, was the ruler of the Huns from 434 until his death in March 453. He was also the leader of a tribal empire consisting of Huns, Ostrogoths, Alans, and Bulgars, among others, in Central Europe ...

winning the first of two consecutive titles.

Mighty Spoiler Theophilus Philip (23 March 1926 – 24 December 1960), better known as Mighty Spoiler, was a Trinidadian calypsonian. Spoiler's career began in 1946 (see 1946 in music) at the House of Lords Tent, and he soon became one of the most popula ...

won the first of three titles in 1948, and

Lord Melody Lord Melody (1926 – 26 September 1988)Thompson, Dave (2002) ''Reggae & Caribbean Music'', backbeat Books, , p.154-155 was a popular Trinidadian calypsonian, best known for singles such as " Boo Boo Man", "Creature From The Black Lagoon", "S ...

the first of three the following year. The competition's most successful calypsonians,

Mighty Sparrow Slinger Francisco ORTT CM OBE (born July 9, 1935), better known as Mighty Sparrow, is a Trinidadian calypso vocalist, songwriter, and guitarist. Known as the "Calypso King of the World", he is one of the best-known and most successful caly ...

and

Chalkdust Hollis Urban Lester Liverpool, better known as Chalkdust (or Chalkie) (born 1940 in Chaguaramas, Trinidad), is a leading calypsonian from Trinidad and Tobago. He has been singing calypso since 1967 and has recorded more than 300 calypsos. Awa ...

, have won the title eight and nine times respectively, the first in 1956, and the last in 1992 for Sparrow, and Chalkdust's reigns were between 1976 and 2017. While calypso had been traditionally a male preserve, the contest was won in 1978 by

Calypso Rose Calypso Rose or Linda McCartha Monica Sandy-Lewis (born April 27, 1940 in Bethel Village, Tobago) is a Trinidadian calypsonian. She started writing songs at the age of 13; over the years, she has composed more than 1000 songs and recorded more th ...

, prompting the organisers to crown her 'Calypso Monarch', the gender-neutral title remaining from that day. There was not another female winner until

Singing Sandra Sandra DesVignes-Millington (10 December 1957 – 28 January 2021), better known as Singing Sandra, was a Trinidadian calypsonian who won the Calypso Monarch title at the 1999 and 2003 carnivals. Biography DesVignes-Millington was born in 1957 ...

took the crown in 1999.Ferguson, Isaac (1999)
Trinidad's Women Set Tone of '99 Carnival
, ''

Billboard A billboard (also called a hoarding in the UK and many other parts of the world) is a large outdoor advertising structure (a billing board), typically found in high-traffic areas such as alongside busy roads. Billboards present large adverti ...

'', 20 March 1999, p. 8, 87. Retrieved 16 September 2013 Singing Sandra is the only female calypsonian to win the Calypso Monarch twice. She won the crown again in 2003. The late Mighty Duke is the only calypsonian to have won the title on four consecutive occasions between 1968 and 1971. Rastafari calypsonian

Black Stalin Leroy Calliste (24 September 1941 – 28 December 2022), better known as Black Stalin, was a leading calypsonian from Trinidad and Tobago known for his lyrics against European colonial oppression. He won the Calypso Monarch competition on fiv ...

won the title on five occasions between 1979 and 1995.O'Brien, Glenn (1985)
Calypso
, ''

Spin Spin or spinning most often refers to: * Spinning (textiles), the creation of yarn or thread by twisting fibers together, traditionally by hand spinning * Spin, the rotation of an object around a central axis * Spin (propaganda), an intentionally ...

'', June 1985, pp. 42-45. Retrieved 16 September 2013 The contest is limited to Trinidad & Tobago nationals however similar Calypso Monarch contests are now held annually in other Caribbean countries and also in North America and the United Kingdom.Mason, Peter (1998) ''Bacchanal!: The Carnival Culture of Trinidad'', Temple University Press, , p. 51

Winners

Multiple Titles

Only a few Calypsonians have the honour of being crowned multiple-time monarchs,

References

{{Reflist Trinidad and Tobago culture Folk festivals in Trinidad and Tobago 1939 establishments in Trinidad and Tobago

History

Winners

Multiple Titles

See also

References