Sparrow "Calypso King of The World"

Slinger Francisco, better known as the Mighty Sparrow, affectionately dubbed "The Birdie" is the unrivaled "Calypso King of the World", with a career that spans over 40 years and counting.

This artist par excellence has earned his rightful place as King of the Calypso World by defeating every other competitor/pretender to his "throne". He has entertained audiences across the globe, including the Caribbean, Europe, Asia, Africa, North and South America.

Sparrow's roots are in Gran Roi, a rural fishing village in Grenada. He was born to a poor working class family. They migrated to his adopted homeland, Trinidad, when he was just one year old. He attended the new Town Boys School where he was selected to sing in the boys' choir of St. Patrick's Catholic Church. This was his initial involvement in music.The harmonics of the Gregorian Chants and the Plainsongs of the church that were embedded in him would later affect the depth and intensity of his compositions. His vocal abilities also reflect his childhood role as the head choirboy in church singing baritone and tenor in Latin.

Other influences included listening to American street quartets, pop tunes by Nat "King" Cole and Frankie Laine, Sarah Vaughn, Billy Eckstein,Frank Sinatra and Ella Fitzgerald with their jazz contributions, and the early calypsos of Lord Melody, Lord Kitchener, Lord Christo, Lord Invader (of "Rum and Coca-Cola" fame) and the Mighty Spoiler, to name a few.

At the tender age of 20, Sparrow emerged as the leading calypsonian with his record-breaking hit, "Jean and Dinah" (Yankees Gone, 1956 -- covered by Harry Belafonte). Throughout the years he managed to showcase his diversity each year with the release of at least one album dating from the 'catchy' "Jean and Dinah" in 1956. His "Carnival Boycott" (1957) was a song responsible for the many changes and improvement for masqueraders, calypsonians and steelband men. This song was eventually responsible for the formation of the Carnival Development Committee, an organization to assist calypsonians, steelband men and masqueraders. This committee was fully endorsed by the "Founding Father of Trinidad & Tobago", Dr. Eric Eustace Williams.

www.mightysparrow.com