Trinidad and Tobago, the calypso fraternity and the universe has lost a great artist!

BY MICHAEL THOMAS

Sandra Des Vignes-Millington aka Singing Sandra the two-time calypso monarch who thrilled audiences with hits like “Voices From The Ghetto,” “Die With My Dignity,” and “Nobody Wins A War.”  She was also the only female to win the national Calypso monarch in Trinidad and Tobago twice. We lost this shining star on January 28^th, 2021, at the age of 63.

It is said that Sandra not only sings a song, she lives it and in the process of doing so, she holds the attention of her audience from the first word, until the song is done.

Sandra, who was born in Laventille Trinidad, has quite a colorful history musically, starting from the tender age of eleven.

Sandra started thrilling her audiences in small talent shows on the island like “Best Village,” and “Scouting for Talent,” where she entered her first competition.

She was also a member of the United Sisters (the late Lady B, Tigress, Marvelous Marva and Sandra), which is a group of female artists who teamed up to produce the Soca hit “Woa Donkey.”

As the years rolled by, Sandra established herself as a force to recon with, winning numerous titles like: Carifesta Queen, Calypso Queen of The World in St Martin, Queen of The Universe in 1992 in Dominica, National Calypso Queen and Trinidad and Tobago National Calypso Monarch on two occasions 1999 and 2003.

Sandra, who has been a finalist on more than fifteen occasions, once said of the Calypso Monarch competition, “You can sing like an angel and still not make it.”

“Calypso for me,” she said, “is not what it is for everyone else. I am a spiritual Baptist and also a practicing Orisha. I allow god to choose my path for me.”

Sandra once said in an interview that she is not blessed with the gift of song writing, but she can write plays and put music in it. “God did not give me that gift,” she said, “and I am not fighting him because he has given me so many others. My gift is to go out there and preach the gospel through Kaiso aka Calypso.” 

“Singing Sandra is a house-hold name,” Sandra said, “not just in Trinidad and Tobago but in Guyana, Grenada, Anguilla, Antigua and Saint Vincent, so when I die, I know that my name will live on and I will always be made reference to.” 

The female Calypso monarch once said, “I want to leave masterpieces. I am not singing any song that I do not believe in, and once I believe in it, I will give it my all.”  Most of her fans would agree that this was indeed what she has accomplished in her lifetime, Calypso masterpieces.

This artist came from humble beginnings but has never forgotten her roots and the people who supported her. Sandra always mentions her neighbourhoods, Morvant and Laventille by name whenever she speaks of her music.

Sandra has toured extensively with the Calypso King of the World (Slinger Francisco aka The Mighty Sparrow) and has been to many countries, continents and islands spreading the Calypso gospel. She has even performed at the Apollo in Harlem New York.

Being the dedicated and die-hard performer that she was Sandra kept thrilling audiences until the end. One of her trademark moves was to remove her shoes no matter how well dressed she was, or where she was, whenever the shoe came off her fans knew that they were in for a musical treat Singing Sandra style.

SIP Singing Sandra, you will definitely be remembered.