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Mona Baptiste was a Trinidad-born singer and actress in London and Germany. She was largely popular from songs like Calypso Blues and There’s Something in the Air.

Life & Career
Originally born in Trinidad, Baptiste emigrated from London in 1948 on the MV Empire Windrush. While presenting herself as a clerk to London immigration, she began working towards her singing career very soon after.

Over the next few years, she appeared in the British music magazine New Musical Express for events such as signing with Cab Kaye to sing with the Cabinettes, appearing on the television show Coloured Follies, and appearing on the British radio variety show Brandbox in 1949. She also started singing at Quaglino’s Restaurant and their Allegro to great success in 1950. In 1951 she worked Ted Heath’s band and other jazz groups, and recorded her version of Calypso Blues, a song originally performed by Nat King Cole.

In Germany she gained recognition for her popular songs like There’s Something in the Air and movie appearances in films like Tanz in der Sonne and An jedem Finger zehn in 1954. Baptiste later retired after her husband died, but tried to make a comeback in the seventies. However, her comeback was unsuccessful. She died on June 25th, 1993 in Krefeld, Germany.

Filmography

 * 1954: Tanz in der Sonne
 * 1954: An jedem Finger zehn
 * 1956: Symphonie in Gold