Saint Lucia’s calypso queen, Lady Leen, is preparing to celebrate another monumental milestone—35 years in calypso. To mark the occasion, she is preparing to host a special concert, titled Odyssey, on March 1, particularly in light of International Women’s Day which falls exactly a week after the show.
The widely respected Lady Leen, whose real name is Frances Marileen Baptiste, has spent the last three and half decades pouring her heart and soul into calypso.
“You see me on stage with all the glamour, but you don’t know what I have been through,” she shared at a press conference on Tuesday, as she reflected on the challenges that come with being an artist. “It’s been a journey—good, bad, a lot, but I keep going. To keep your name alive for 35 years is no easy task, but I always smile. Nothing’s gonna spoil my day at all.”
Lady Leen hopes Odyssey will be a defining moment that will show her what love and appreciation her fans and fellow artists have for her.
“Sometimes, after everything you’ve done, you wonder—do they really care? That night will tell me,” she said.
Beyond the music, she also hopes to use the event to support underprivileged individuals and work with the Ministry of Gender Affairs to make a lasting impact.
With strong support from the artistic community, there is already talk of making Odyssey an annual event.
The star-studded lineup for the show, which kicks off at 8:30 p.m. at the National Cultural Centre, includes Qpid, Sly, Ronald Boo Hinkson & Christa Bailey, Herb Black, Oshun, Black Pearl, Invader, TC Brown, Dezral, and Ophélia from Dominica.
Good luck and best wishes. I know that you always had a love for music – I remember you for a show way back in the day called “life wire” —-blessings.