By Prior Beharry
CALYPSONIAN Singing Francine has passed away. She was 79.
The Trinbago Unified Calypsonians’ Organisation (TUCO) in a post on its Facebook page on Friday stated that the singer whose real name was Francine Edwards died earlier that day.
It stated that Singing Francine was born in Barbados on February 13, 1943, and came to Trinidad at a young age. When asked how she began singing calypso, she responded, “I never became involved in the calypso art form. I was born into the calypso art form.”
TUCO stated that she addressed social issues, particularly those directly affecting women during her career.
It stated that in 1975, she sang A Call to Women encouraging more women to use calypso music as a vehicle of self-expression. In her 1978 calypso Runaway she addressed the topic of domestic violence, urging women in abusive living situations to seek help.
TUCO noted that Singing Francine was one of the most successful calypsonians in Trinidad and Tobago, winning the National Calypso Queen competition in 1972, 1973, 1981 and 1983.
In 1981, Singing Francine released the parang album Christmas is Love which featured a blend of calypso, soca and parang sounds.
Her album came only three years after the calypsonian Crazy, released Parang Soca—one of the first songs to feature what we now call parang soca making him a pioneer in this genre.
Singing Francine has released a number of Christmas hits including Hooray, Hurrah, Parang Parang, I Love Christmas, Christmas is Love, Caribbean Christmas, and Ay Ay Maria.
