Sheila Brereton Robinson, also known as Lady Pearl, the first lady of Canadian Calypso, has passed away. Lady Pearl, as she was affectionately called by everyone, was a one-of-a-kind singer and personality wrapped in her own package.
She was an extremely quiet and classy lady who brought a special elegance and fashion flair to the art form. Knowing her as a person and witnessing her on stage was like night and day.
On stage is where she brought the magic of any song she sang to life in a way that only Lady Pearl could have done. Her enormous stage presence and confident way of delivering a composition were part of what I believe gave her the Calypso stage name Lady Pearl.
For many years, Pearl was a staple on the Calypso scene in Toronto and beyond. In 1992, she became the first woman to win the Canadian Calypso Monarch title with her composition “Mother of All Humanity,” and she went on to capture another Calypso crown in Miami, Florida, as well.
Pearl was known for her keen sense of fashion, always dressed to the nines. Whether it was on or off stage, she commanded that attention. Her clothes, royal dance steps, and a one-of-a-kind voice all screamed Lady Pearl.
Long-time musician and arranger Harold Ian Jones agreed Pearl was a one-of-a-kind performer. I spoke with Former Calypso Monarch Joel Davis (aka Lord Connector) who remembered Lady Pearl this way, “She always gave good advice and meant well whenever she spoke to me.”
Macoomere Fifi (aka Tara Woods) who has won the Calypso crown numerous times, had this to say of Lady Pearl, “She had a voice that was uniquely Lady Pearl, and she could dress and dance. She was always a culture person and a family person also.”
Another two-time Calypso Monarch, Pat McNeilly (aka Pan Man Pat) spoke fondly of the First Lady of Calypso, “When she entered Calypso, she brought a queenly personality to the association. She was simple, not loud, but graceful, and always had a smile. She continued with the association for a long time, even though she may not have been well all the time.”
Lady Pearl will be missed by her family, her fans, and by the numerous Calypso artists of Toronto and beyond, where she created an unforgettable impact. On behalf of the Calypso artists here in Canada, our heart goes out to Lady Pearl’s family. Our condolences.
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