History

"Mary Ann," composed by calypsonian

Calypsonian

A calypsonian , originally known as the chantwell is a musician, from the Anglophone Caribbean, who sings songs called calypso. Calypsos are musical renditions having their origins in the West African griot tradition...

 Roaring Lion

Roaring Lion

Roaring Lion was a calypsonian...

 (born name: Hubert Raphael Charles), was popular with steelbands and revelers during a spontaneous Carnival celebration on V-J Day in Trinidad in 1945, at the end of World War II. The song's lyrics alluded to Mary Ann's occupation:

All day, all night, Miss Mary Ann

Down by the seaside, she sifting sand.

Recordings

Latin bandleader Xavier Cugat recorded a version of "Mary Ann" in the late 1940s. During the 1956-57 American calypso craze, the Easy Riders

The Easy Riders (American band)

The Easy Riders were an American folk music band, that operated from 1956 to 1959, consisting of Terry Gilkyson, Richard Dehr, and Frank Miller. Their career was guided by Mitch Miller, who had them under contract for Columbia Records....

, Burl Ives

Burl Ives

Burl Icle Ivanhoe Ives was an American actor, writer and folk music singer. As an actor, Ives's work included comedies, dramas, and voice work in theater, television, and motion pictures. Music critic John Rockwell said, "Ives's voice .....

 and other interpreters of folk music further popularized the calypso, generally under the title of "Marianne". The song continued to be a favorite with steelbands and calypso entertainers at Caribbean tourist hotels for many years.

The most popular version was recorded by Terry Gilkyson

Terry Gilkyson

Hamilton H. Gilkyson III , better known as Terry Gilkyson, was an American folk singer, composer, and lyricist.-Biography:...

 and The Easy Riders (#4 on the Billboard Top 100

Billboard Hot 100

The Billboard Hot 100 is the United States music industry standard singles popularity chart issued weekly by Billboard magazine. Chart rankings are based on radio play and sales; the tracking-week for sales begins on Monday and ends on Sunday, while the radio play tracking-week runs from Wednesday...

); another version was recorded by The Hilltoppers

The Hilltoppers

The Hilltoppers were an American popular music singing group.-Career:Originally the group was a trio formed at Western Kentucky State College , Bowling Green, Kentucky...

 in 1957

1957 in music

-Events:*January 5 – Renato Carosone and his band start their American tour in Cuba.*January 6 – Elvis Presley makes his final appearance on the The Ed Sullivan Show.*January 16 – The Cavern Club opens in Liverpool, UK....

 (#3 on the Billboard Top 100).

Trini Lopez

Trini Lopez

Trini Lopez is an American singer, guitarist and actor.-Career:Lopez was born in Dallas, Texas, on Ashland Street in the Little Mexico neighborhood. He began his entertainment career in Dallas playing at the Vegas Club, a nightclub owned by Jack Ruby...

 included "Marianne" on his At PJ'S album on Reprise Records

Reprise Records

Reprise Records is an American record label, founded in 1960 by Frank Sinatra. It is owned by Warner Music Group, and operated through Warner Bros. Records.-Beginnings:...

 RS-6093.

External links

• Marianne song lyrics at Yahoo Music