Biography Wikipedia
Wikipedia:
Black Stalin (born Leroy Calliste, September 24, 1941) is a leading calypsonian.
Born in San Fernando, Trinidad and Tobago, to George and Elcina Calliste ,He is one of four children. Stalin began singing calypso in 1959, but did not join a calypso tent until 1962 when he joined the Southern Brigade. In 1967 he joined Kitchener's Calypso Revue tent and managed to place in that year's Calypso Monarch competition.
Stalin won the Calypso Monarch competition for the first time in 1979 and went on to win it again in 1985, 1987, 1991 and 1995. He attended San Fernando Boys' R.C.
In 1979 he moved over to the Mighty Shadow's King of the Wizards Tent and recorded his first album, "The Caribbean Man". That year he walked away with his first Calypso Monarch crown for his two compositions, "Caribbean Unity" and "Play One".
In 1985 he won the crown again with "Ism Schism" and "Wait Dorothy", and again in 1987 with a tribute to steelband entitled "Mr.Pan Maker" and "Bun Dem" which can be seen as the first in a long line of fire burn songs performed by Rastafarian singers in the Caribbean.
In 1987 he was also awarded the Hummingbird Medal (Silver) for his contribution to Trinidad and Tobago culture.
In 1991 the usually dread and critical Stalin took a winning turn and walked away with the Calypso Monarch crown again, with "Look on the Bright Side" and "Black man Feeling to Party. In 1995 he went chutney, with a "Tribute to Sundar Popo, in honour of his old friend and fellow singer.
In 1999 he won the title of Calypso King of the World with the calypsoes "Black Man Feeling to Party" and "Wine Boy", poking fun at the politician Dhanraj Singh.
Black Stalin became Dr. Leroy Calliste on October 31, 2008, when he was conferred with an honorary doctorate from the University of the West Indies, St. Augustine for his tremendous dedication and contribution to Calypso music and culture in Trinidad and Tobago.