Roaring Lion | |
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| Background information | |
| Birth name | Rafael de Leon[1] |
| Born | 22 February 1908 Aroquita, British Trinidad and Tobago |
| Died | 11 July 1999 (aged 91) Mt. Lambert, Trinidad and Tobago |
| Genres | Calypso |
| Years active | 1930s–1999 |
Roaring Lion (22 February 1908 – 11 July 1999)[2] was a Trinidadian calypsonian (calypso singer/composer). His 65-year career began in the early 1930s and he is best known for his compositions "Ugly Woman" (1933), "Mary Ann" and "Netty, Netty", which are still performed today. The song "If You Wanna Be Happy", which hit number one on the Billboard Hot 100 on 18 May 1963, as well as the R&B singles chart,[3] is based on Roaring Lion's "Ugly Woman".
- ^ Thompson, Dave (2002). Reggae and Caribbean Music. San Francisco: Backbeat Books. p. 242. ISBN 9780879306557.
- ^ Emrit, Ronald C. "Roaring Lion". bestoftrinidad.com.
- ^ Whitburn, Joel (2004). Top R&B/Hip-Hop Singles: 1942–2004. Record Research. p. 803.