PORT-OF-SPAIN – Calypso music lost one of its defining voices Sunday with the death of Slinger Francisco, better known as the Mighty Sparrow and celebrated as the “Calypso King of the World.” He was 91.
Francisco rose to prominence with his 1956 calypso hit “Jean and Dinah.” He died peacefully in New York surrounded by family, according to a statement from his relatives. The statement said he had suffered a “brief illness” but provided no further details.
“He was an institution in the entertainment industry, well admired for his skill and finesse as a singer, songwriter and mentor; beloved by many,” Francisco’s family said.
The Trinbago Unified Calypsonians’ Organisation described the Mighty Sparrow as “a defining voice of our culture, a master storyteller and a towering figure whose music helped carry calypso from Trinidad and Tobago to the world.”
Francisco was born in July 1935 in Grand Roy, a coastal town in Grenada. When he was still a toddler, he moved with his parents to Trinidad and Tobago in 1937.
Trinidad and Tobago, widely regarded as the birthplace of calypso, became the setting where Francisco’s Mighty Sparrow identity took shape. He went on to produce a long list of celebrated songs, including “Both of Them,” “Congo Man,” “Mr. Walker” and “The Lizard.”
Affectionately known as “Birdie,” Francisco recorded hundreds of songs during a career that lasted six decades. His international performances included appearances at major venues such as Madison Square Garden in New York City.
Trinidadian cultural historian and author Dr. Rudolph Ottley said Francisco remained focused throughout his career on advancing the calypso art form.
“The Mighty Sparrow was the supreme entertainer, a cultural revolutionary and one of the world’s greatest Calypsonians,” Dr. Ottley told The Associated Press.
Trinidad and Tobago honored the composer and performer with national awards. In 1987, the University of the West Indies also awarded Francisco an honorary Doctor of Letters.
