The calypso and parang communities are once again in mourning as another cultural icon, Francine Edwards, better known as Singing Francine, has passed away.
Seventy-nine-year-old Edwards, known for many Christmas hits including “Hooray, Hurrah,” “Parang Parang,” “I love Christmas,” “Christmas is Love,” “Caribbean Christmas” and “Ay Ay Maria” as well as several compelling hits, including “Go Brave” and “Runaway,” died of heart failure in New York early yesterday morning.
Although not born in Trinidad and Tobago, Singing Francine moved from Barbados to the twin island at a young age, entered the music scene and became one of the most popular female calypsonians and pioneers of parang music.
Throughout Singing Francine’s ten-year career, she used her musical platform to address many social issues, especially those affecting women.
In 1975, she sang “A Call to Women,” which encouraged women to use calypso music as a means of self-expression. Similarly, in 1978, her “Calypso” hit “Runaway” addressed the topic of domestic violence, urging women in abusive living situations to seek help.
She also won the National Calypso Queen pageant title in 1972, 1973, 1981 and 1983.
Singer Francine was also an important figure in the development of parang and what we know today as soca parang.
Speaking to the Express by phone yesterday, Edwards’ manager and friend of over 23 years Cherril “Pauline” Caraballo said Edwards was in good health until two years ago when he suffered a massive heart attack.
She had since undergone successful open heart surgery and had been doing very well.
Singer Francine was even strong enough to undergo another surgery last Monday, this time for cataract surgery.
As such, Edwards’ death came as a shock to her manager and those closest to the singer.
Caraballo said: “She was functioning well and doing well. But yesterday (Thursday) morning she started complaining about her breasts. I called paramedics and they took him to Jamaica Hospital (Jamaica Hospital Medical Center in Queens, New York). She was unconscious for five minutes, but they were able to bring her back. But Jamaica didn’t have an incubator, so they sent him to Lennox (Lenox Hill Hospital) in Manhattan. She was pronounced dead at 5.30am this Friday. The cause of her death was heart failure.
“It seems strange to me. She was at church on Sunday and was happy and singing and hugging everyone. She was thanking God for her successful surgery and all was well. There are no signs of anything bad,” she added.
Asked how she would describe Edwards, Caraballo said that in addition to being known for her singing, she was a woman of prayer.
She was a prominent member of her church and attended church every Sunday.
She also described him as very bold, cheerful and loud.
Edwards is survived by her daughter Shirley, five grandchildren and three great-grandchildren who all live in her native Barbados.
She was born on February 13, 1943 and died just two months before her 80th birthday.
Caraballo was just leaving Lennox Hill Hospital after seeing the body when she spoke to the Express as such, she said no funeral arrangements had been confirmed.
But he added that Edwards’ daughter Shirley will travel to the United States soon and then decide whether or not her funeral will be held in New York or Trinidad and Tobago.
Preserve her legacy
In an announcement from the Ministry of Tourism, Culture and the Arts yesterday, Tourism Minister Randall Mitchell said the legacy of Singing Francine must be preserved.
“On behalf of the Ministry of Tourism, Culture and the Arts, I extend my heartfelt condolences to the family of Singing Francine, 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 we will honor and preserve the legacy she has given to this county.”
The minister added that for decades, Singing Francine has contributed significantly to the development of the calypso art form and the liberation of women through calypso.
Yesterday, the Trinbago Unified Calypsonian Organization (TUCO) paid tribute to Singing Francine in a statement. TUCO said, “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… Over the years, Singing Francine has released a number of Christmas hits, earning her a reputation as one of the best parranderos in Trinidad.
According to TUCO, when asked how he got into calypso singing, Edwards replied, “I was never involved in the art form of calypso. I was born into the calypso art form.”
Singer Francine was also part of the cast of the Kaiso Caravan tent.
Speaking to the Express over the phone yesterday, tent boss Kaiso Karavan and fellow calypsonian Johnny King said: “It’s sad to lose Francine. Francine has been singing in our tent for almost a decade. She is one of the best among all female and female calypsonian singers in Trinidad and Tobago. She could rank with Roza and all the other greats. It is sad to lose Francine. She was very calm. She was a good person.
In fact, when I got the call this morning (Friday), I thought she was calling me to find out about the tent this year. We will miss her very much. We’ve been losing everyone lately. We lost Explainer not too long ago.”
Francine continued to sing locally until she left Trinidad two years ago.
Also speaking to Express over the phone yesterday, an artist from the United States known as D’Rich also paid tribute to Edwards.
He said: “Francine was like a raging bull, a bold lioness. If you think about when she was in music, especially as a woman and her journey throughout her career, if you listen to her songs and how she was such a prolific advocate for women and women’s rights, you will understand what I mean. She was going against the norm and rose to the occasion. She is indeed a strong woman. A force to be reckoned with and determined to get things done her way.”
“She’s also had a huge impact on my career and I know for a lot of other people in the industry as well. It was an honor to know him on and off the stage,” he added.
