KINGSTON, Jamaica — For the first time in her 69-year career, veteran Trinidadian calypso singer Calypso Rose, has earned a gold record.

Calypso Queen, a song featured on her 2016 album Far from Home, was certified gold in France on Tuesday July 16.

The certification commemorating 100,000 units in sales and streaming, was issued by SNEP (National Syndicate of Phonographic Publishing).

This is the second time that Calypso Rose has earned a certification from SNEP. Far From Home was certified platinum in 2017. The album would later win the 2017 Victoire de la Musique Award (French equivalent of a Grammy) for World Music Album of the Year.

Calypso Queen, released on April 22, 2016, was produced by Because Music. Its official video has so far racked up more than 7.3 million views on YouTube.

Born Linda McCartha Monica Sandy-Lewis, the 84-year-old Calypso Rose grew up in Bethel Village, Tobago. She started writing songs at the age of 13.

Considered the “mother of calypso”, Rose was the first female calypso star and her lyrics frequently address social issues like racism and sexism. Her influence over the Calypso music genre forced the renaming of the Calypso King competition to the Calypso Monarch instead.

In addition to writing songs about social issues, Rose is also an activist and was given the title of UNICEF Goodwill Ambassador for former child soldiers along with performing at numerous events for social change.

She currently resides in Queens, New York, and regularly returns to Trinidad and Tobago in addition to touring.

Calypso Rose is best known for her 1966 hit song Fire In Meh Wire, Come Leh We Jam, Voodoo Lay Loo, and 1975’s Do Dem Back.

She has performed in Jamaica on several occasions.

— Kevin Jackson