Slinger Francisco, the “Calypso King” also known as the Mighty Sparrow, died Sunday in New York at the age of 91 after a short illness, according to his daughter, Karen Francisco.
“He was a beloved institution to many, admired for his skill and mastery as a singer, songwriter and mentor in the entertainment industry. He was also a husband, father, grandfather, great-grandfather, life partner and friend,” Karen wrote in a Facebook post. “He died peacefully surrounded by his family.”
Born July 9, 1935, in Grand Roy, Grenada, Slinger moved to Trinidad with his family when he was 1 year old, according to his official biography. In the 1960s he moved to New York, where he would live for the rest of his life. He would eventually write more than 500 songs and record more than 70 albums. His notable hits include “Mr. Walker”, “Obeah Wedding”, “Congo Man”, “Phillip, My Dear”, “The Slave” and “Saltfish”. He also recorded the song “Only a Fool Breaks His Own Heart” with Jamaican musician Byron Lee, which became a hit in the UK and the Netherlands, spending 27 weeks in the charts and reaching No. 2 in 1978.
Ainsley King, president of the Trinbago United Calypsonians Organization (TUCO), a non-profit organization representing more than 600 Calypso artists, honored Birdie, also known as the singer, in a statement.
“I know Sparrow as a giant whose contribution cannot be measured by awards, titles or records alone,” King wrote. “Through his music, he expressed the humour, struggles, politics, relationships, social realities and daily experiences of the Caribbean people. His songwriting, delivery, wit and stage presence set the standards for which generations of Calypsonians continue to work and admire.”
“Even as we mourn, we must also celebrate an extraordinary life and ensure that future generations understand the magnitude of the legacy he left behind,” he continued. “Birdie’s voice may be silent, but her songs, her stories, and her contribution to calypso will live on.”
General Colin Powell and Bob Dylan are among Sparrow’s fans, with Powell calling him “Calypso’s Mount Olympus.” Dylan congratulated the singer in the liner notes for “Biograph,” a 1985 compilation box set, saying: “In terms of concept, wit, and fighting with words, the Mighty Sparrow was, and probably still is, the king… His shows are like prize fights and he always comes out on top, all that and a band of fifteen or twenty guys going off… He’s magnificent.”