CALYPSO HERO SLINGER FRANCISCO
(THE MIGHTY SPARROW)
By Michael Alexander
Caricom Regional Youth Ambassador
Regional Youth Ambassador Program
cryap2002@hotmail.com
http://www.caricom.org
Newsday
July 15, 2002
Page 28
Born: 1936 Gran Roi, Grenada. At age 20, the Mighty Sparrow, became recognised as a leading calypsonian with "Jean and Dinah" (1956). Sparrow went on to compose and sing many more memorable tunes including "Congo Man" and "Drunk and Disorderly" and has produced over seventy (70) albums. He was crowned Calypso monarch eleven (11) times and won the Road March title eight (8) times.
The Mighty Sparrow took calypso around the world. In Holland he was awarded a Gold Record and in Nigeria he received the honorary title of Chief of the Yorubas (1977). In 1987, he was awarded an Honorary Doctorate Degree, Doctor of Letters from the University of the West Indies.
Sparrow has also been awarded the 1993 Chaconia Gold Medal from the Government of Trinidad and Tobago and the Order of the Caribbean Community the Highest Award of the Caricom Secretariat.
In addition the Mighty Sparrow has been recognised countless times locally, regionally and internationally for his invaluable contribution to the calypso artform.