February 2020

SINGING   FRANCINE REAL NAME: Francine Edwards DATE OF BIRTH: February 13, 1943 PLACE OF BIRTH: Barbados EDUCATION: (later) CAREER:                                    Born in Barbados, Singing Francine migrated to Trinidad as a child. A soul singer early in her singing career, she performed as a backup vocalist with the Mighty Sparrow for about five years. Throughout her career, Singing Francine used her musical talent to address social issues especially those affecting women. "In 1975, she sang "A Call to Women" encouraging more women to use calypso music as a vehicle of self-expression. She addressed the topic of domestic violence in her 1978 calypso "Runaway," urging women in abusive living situations to seek help. She recorded several Christmas songs including “Hooray, Hurrah,” “Christmas Is Love,” “Ay Ay Maria,” and “Caribbean Christmas” all of which made her one of the best parang-singers in Trinidad & Tobago. She won the National Calypso Queen competition in 1972, 1973, 1981, and 1983. Her other songs include: “Parang Parang;” and "I Love Christmas.” DIED: December 16, 2022, from heart failure at her home in Queens, New York, USA. Compiled by Ronald C. Emrit