T&T – Singing Francine Passed

Trinidad and Tobago’s Calypso singer Singing Francine (Francine Edwards)  has passed away.

Singing Francine died away early this morning, according to a statement from the Trinbago Unified Calypsonians Organization (TUCO).

Edwards immigrated to T&T at an early age. She was born on February 13, 1943, in Barbados.

TUCO  stated, “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.”

“Throughout her career, she has used her musical talent to address social issues, particularly those directly affecting women. 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,” it stated.

Singing Francine had left her mark on Calypso history as one of the most successful Trinidad and Tobago winning the National Calypso Queen competition in 1972, 1973, 1981, and 1983.

“Over the course of her career, she has become an important figure in the development of not only calypso but also parang. In 1981, Singing Francine released the parang album ‘Christmas is Love,’ which featured a blend of calypso, soca, and parang sounds. Francine’s 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’ or ‘soca parang,’ making him a pioneer in this genre,” it stated.

He noted, “since then, many musicians such as Baron, Scrunter, Chalkdust, Kitchener, Sundar Popo, Drupatee Ramgoonai, Rikki Jai, and Singing Francine have also made their mark by blending the dynamic sounds of calypso, soca, chutney, and parang.”

“Over the years, Singing Francine has released a number of Christmas hits, earning her the reputation as one of the best parranderos in Trinidad.

TUCO stated, “some of her classic parang songs include “Hooray, Hurrah,” “Parang Parang,” I Love Christmas,” “Christmas is Love,” “Caribbean Christmas,” and “Ay Ay Maria.”

TUCO president, Ainsley King and the General Council of TUCO express their condolences to the family, loved ones, friends, and colleagues of the late Singing Francine.