Trinidad was colonized by the Spanish, received large numbers of French immigrants, and was later ruled by the British. This multi-colonial past has greatly impacted the development of calypso in Trinidad. Many early calypsos were sung in a French-Creole dialect called patois ("pat-was"). These songs, usually led by one individual called a griot, helped to unite the slaves.

 Calypso singing competitions, held annually at Carnival time, grew in popularity after the abolition of slavery by the British in the 1830s. (It was the French who brought the tradition of Carnival to Trinidad.) The griot later became known as the chantuelle and today as the calypsonian. 
 Contemporary calypsonians such as David Rudder have very successfully combined calypso lyrics with dance rhythms - making the music accessible to a larger audience.  Musicians and groups such as Rudder & the Love Circle, as well as he annual resurgence of calypso at Carnival time lets us know that calypso is very much alive and vibrant with a bright future.

 As with all great music styles Calypso strongly influences and the predecessor of serveral musical styles, including  Reggae,  Soca &   Rapso.  Like Calypso, each of these styles employ the power of rhythm to create joyous & energized music.