The calypso community in Dominica is mourning the death of four-time calypso monarch, Melvin Constant, “Solo” who drowned on Sunday.
Police said the 75-year-old, who resided in the United States, had been on vacation, when he got into distress while swimming in an area known as Tibay in Portsmouth.
The authorities said efforts were made to resuscitate the singer, who was in the company of his family at the time of the incident. He was subsequently transported to the Reginald Fitzgerald Armour Hospital in Portsmouth where he was officially pronounced dead.
Solo was well known for his calypsos including “Mass in the Cemetery”. Melvin Constant first won the monarch title in 1973 with his tunes “Black Man Leads the Way” and “I Pleasing Me Fans” and regained the title in 1975, 1976 and 1977, after failing to repeat in 1974.
Although he was based in the US, he continued to be active in the music industry performing in competitions abroad.
CMC/
