Veteran calypsonian Leroy “Black Stalin” Calliste has passed away at the age of 81.

The Trinidadian won the country’s National Calypso Monarch title for the first time in 1979 with the songs Caribbean Man and Play One. He would repeat his victory in 1985, 1987, 1991, and 1995.

Black Stalin received the Hummingbird Medal (Silver) at the National Awards ceremony in 1987 and an honorary doctorate from the University of the West Indies, St. Augustine, in 2008 for his dedication and contribution to calypso music and culture in Trinidad and Tobago.

Paying tribute to late calypsonian, special advisor on heritage development to the Division of Culture in the Prime Minister office and Calypsonian  Senator John King, credits Black Stallion as being one of the reasons he got into art form.

Mr. King said that the loss of Black Stalin will be mourned by the calypso fraternity for a long time.

Senator John King sends his condolences to the family of the late Leroy “Black Stalin” Calliste.