Singing Francine (Francine Edwards), the veteran of calypso and parang, has passed away at the age of 79. Francine was born on February 13, 1943 in Barbados, and moved to Trinidad and Tobago as a young girl. It was in the twin island state that her career blossomed.
Francine was known for classics such as Hooray, Hurrah, Parang Parang, I Love Christmas, Caribbean Christmas, Ay Ay Maria and Go Brave.She produced ten albums, including Mrs Calypso and Leave Them, and won the title of National Calypso Queen competition in the years 1972, 1973, 1981 and 1983.
Since Singing Francine’s demise, tributes have poured in from the Caribbean community and her fellow artists, including the Trinbago Unified Calypsonians’ Organisation (TUCO) and the head of Kaiso Karavan tent and fellow calypsonian Johnny King.
Minister of Tourism, Culture and the Arts, Randall Mitchell, said in a press release, “On behalf of the Ministry of Tourism, Culture and the Arts, I express my heartfelt condolences to Singing Francine’s family, the people of Trinidad and Tobago and the cultural fraternity. We will continue to be grateful for the joy she brought, especially during this festive season, and will honour and preserve the legacy she has bestowed upon this country.”
Francine will be greatly remembered for contributing to the development of parang, and for using her platform to address many social issues, particularly those affecting women, through songs like A Call To Women and Runaway which urged women to be confident and seek help from abusive relationships.
After a heart attack which led to open heart surgery, Francine died on 16 December 2022 from heart failure, at the Lennox Hill Hospital in New York. She is survived by her daughter, Shirley, five grandchildren and three great-grandchildren, who are based in Barbados.
