![]() in 1956 to Carnival Boycott (1957, a song responsible for the many changes and improvement for mass men, calypsonians and steelband men). ![]() 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. (Yankees Gone, 1956 covered by Harry Belafonte). 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 calypsoes of Lord Melody, Lord Kitchener, Lord Christo, Lord Invader (of Rum and Coca Cola fame) and the Mighty Spoiler, to name a few.Īt the tender age of 20, Sparrow emerged, as the leading Calypsonian with his record-breaking hit, Jean and Dinah. His vocal abilities also reflect his childhood role as the head choirboy who sang baritone and tenor in Latin in the church. 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. ![]() This was his initial involvement in music. He attended the New Town Boys School where he was selected to sing in the boys. They migrated to his adopted homeland, Trinidad, when he was just one year old. He was born to a poor working class family. Sparrow's roots are in Gran Roi, a rural fishing village in Grenada. He has entertained audiences across the globe, including, the Caribbean, Europe, Asia, Africa, North and South America, to name but a few. This artist par excellence has earned his rightful place as "King of the Calypso World" by defeating every other competitor/pretender to his throne. 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. ![]()
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