Eloise Lewis, Bahamas

Most female calypsonians sing in an oddly high-pitched voice, unless it's an affectation, a copied style. The most famous "Bahama Mama" from the hi-fi LP era, and no doubt an inspiration to countless imitators, was Eloise Lewis, the First Lady of Bahamian Song. Born in Jacksonville, Forida but raised in Nassau, she studied guitar and began singing publicly at the age of thirteen. She headlined at the Drumbeat and toured Europe and North America. The original Goombay Trio which accompanied her consisted of George Wilson, bass, "Peanuts" Taylor, drums, and "Barbalou," maraccas. Her renditions of "Similau" and "Coconut Woman" are priceless, and her other experiments with Latin, folk songs, ballads, and added sounds are among the more successful in calypso.

Buying: Skip none. All of her records are great and moderately hard to find.