Mighty Sparrow Turns 91: Celebrating the Calypso King
Slinger Francisco, better known as Mighty Sparrow, is a Grenadian-born Trinidadian calypso legend. He has claimed eight Carnival Road March titles, eight Calypso Monarch crowns and twice won the King of Kings title. He grew up in Laventille and joined a steel band at 14. His lively stage presence earned him the name “Little Sparrow,” later changed to Mighty Sparrow. He recorded his first hits in the mid-1950s and made his mark with songs like “Jean and Dinah.” Through the 1960s and 1970s he released over forty albums and helped bring calypso to Europe and North America. His international highlights include “Only a Fool Breaks His Own Heart,” a gold-disc hit, and “Crawford,” a tribute to sprinter Hasely Crawford. Well into his eighties he continued to tour, blending wit, social commentary and romance in his lyrics. Now 91, the Calypso King’s influence still inspires artists around the world.
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