Slinger Francisco, the Trinidadian singer who spent more than six decades bringing calypso to audiences worldwide as the Mighty Sparrow, has died. He was 91.
Details on The Mighty Sparrow’s death, according to his family
Francisco died Sunday surrounded by his family in New York following a “brief illness.” His daughter, Karen Francisco, announced his death in a Facebook post.
“He was an institution in the entertainment industry, well admired for his skill and finesse as a singer, songwriter and mentor; beloved by many. He was also a husband, father, grandfather, great-grandfather, life partner and friend,” Karen wrote on behalf of the family.
She continued, stating that before Francisco passed, he gave his life over to Jesus Christ and was baptized in the “Seven Day Adventist faith.” Karen and the family are currently working together to give the legendary singer a proper send off as a celebration of his life.
“As we prepare for a proper gathering to celebrate his life, we encourage his friends and fans to pay tribute on social media by tagging @therealmightysparrow. We thank everyone for their well wishes and for allowing the family to grieve privately at this most difficult time.”
How The Mighty Sparrow started his career in calypso music
Francisco was born on July 9, 1935, in Grand Roy, Grenada. He moved with his family to Trinidad and Tobago as a baby after his father found work there. In Trinidad and Tobago, the birthplace of calypso music, he took on the name and persona of the Mighty Sparrow, according to The Guardian and The New York Times.
He later rose to prominence in calypso music with his 1956 hit “Jean and Dinah,” which brought him international success. From there, Francisco built a career spanning more than six decades, recording hundreds of songs and performing internationally. His performances included major New York venues such as Madison Square Garden, the Brooklyn Academy of Music, one of Manhattan’s popular clubs, S.O.B.’s, Lincoln Center and the Apollo Theater, per The New York Times.
Francisco’s music explored politics, colonialism, relationships and the experiences of people in the Caribbean and its diaspora. He used calypso as social commentary while incorporating elements of jazz, swing, bebop, reggae and soca. His well-known songs included “Congo Man,” “Both of Them,” “Mr. Walker,” “The Lizard” and “King of the World,” The Guardian reported.
The Trinbago Unified Calypsonians’ Organisation speaks out about The Mighty Sparrow: ‘A defining voice of our culture’
He was named Calypso Monarch eight times and an eight-time winner of Trinidad and Tobago’s Carnival Road March competition. His influence extended beyond the Caribbean, with Bob Dylan praising him as the “king” of calypso and former U.S. Secretary of State the late Colin Powell calling him the “Mount Olympus of Calypso,” according to The New York Times.
Francisco received national honors from Trinidad and Tobago, while the University of the West Indies awarded him an honorary Doctor of Letters in 1987. He later received the Order of the Caribbean, the region’s highest honor, per The Guardian.
After uniting music lovers worldwide for decades, Francisco will be remembered 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,” the Trinbago Unified Calypsonians’ Organisation said in a statement, according to NBC News.