With his politically aware lyrics set to a high-tech blend of electric drums, congas, horns, guitar, and bass, Black Stalin (born Leroy Calliste) was hailed as "one of the kings of soca." A five-time winner of Trinidad's National Calypso Monarch competition (1979, 1985, 1987, 1991, and 1995), Stalin sang of the struggles of South Africa, the quest for world peace, his secrets for staying alive ("stay strong, high and dread") and the craft of pan drum-making. CMJ praised Stalin when it wrote, "with the spirit of Rastafari, Stalin and his band of horns, guitars, and pans tell it like it is, smilin' all the time." Black Stalin died on December 28, 2022 at the age of 81. ~ Craig Harris, Rovi