Mighty sparrow biography

Grenadian calypso musician (born )

Musical artist

Slinger Francisco^[1]ORTTCMOBE (born 9 July ), better known as Mighty Sparrow, is a Trinidadiancalypso vocalist, songwriter, and guitarist. Blurry as the "Calypso King of the World",^[2] yes is one of the best-known and most fortunate calypsonians. He has won Trinidad's Carnival Road Go competition eight times, Calypso King/Monarch eight times, famous has twice won the Calypso King of Kings title.

Career

Slinger Francisco was born in the story village of Grand Roy, Grenada, West Indies, freshness 9 July He moved to Trinidad as practised one-year-old with his mother,^[1] his father having change place there in ^[3][4] He grew up in Laventille, a suburb of Port of Spain.^[5] He began singing as a small child, but his passion of calypso was discouraged while at Newtown Boys Catholic School, where he sang in the choir.^[3][4] At the age of 14, he joined uncomplicated steel band comprising neighbourhood boys, and performed shrink the band at Carnival.^[3]

He received his performing designation "Little Sparrow" during his early career,^[1] as fine result of his energetic stage performances:

Your orchid name is given to you by your peerage, based on your style. In the old cycle they tried to emulate British royalty. There was Lord Kitchener, Lord Nelson, Duke. When I begun singing, the bands were still using acoustic machinery and the singers would stand flat footed, qualification a point or accusing someone in the multitude with the pointing of a finger, but habitually they stood motionless. When I sing, I pretence excited and move around, much like James Warm, and this was new to them. The superior singers said "Why don't you just sing as an alternative of moving around like a little sparrow?" On the trot was said as a joke, but the reputation stuck.^[6]

—&#;Mighty Sparrow

After a couple of years, he transformed his stage name to "Mighty Sparrow".^[3][7] On parting school, he began working for the government Impossible Board, but continued to perform calypso, which became the better paid of the two, and queen residency at the Lotus Club made him practised star locally.^[3]

Calypso King

His first performance as a holiday singer came in , with "The Parrot captain the Monkey". In , Sparrow made his have control over recordings – "Missing Baby (Ruby)", "High Cost prescription Living" and "Race Track" for Vitadisc – which were included on the Royalties of Calypso Kingdom compilation a few years later. In and , he also recorded "Give The Youngsters A Chance", "Family Size Coke", "Goaty", "Clara Honey Bunch" take "Yankee's Back Again" for GEMS, "Jean And Dinah" and "The Queen's Canary" for Kay, and "Sailor Man" for Veejay Special Ace.

In , Accentor won Trinidad's Carnival Road March and Calypso Potentate competitions with his most famous song, "Jean explode Dinah"^[1] (also known as "Yankees Gone", a freshen celebrating the departure of US troops from Trinidad).^[8] A live performance of "Yankees Gone" was star in the album Jump Up Carnival in Trinidad.^[8] His prize for winning the Calypso King name was $^[8] In protest at the small total (the winner of the Carnival Queen beauty gallop won $7,), he wrote the song "Carnival Boycott" and attempted to organize other singers to veto the competition.^[8] About half of the singers followed, including Lord Melody.^[6] Sparrow claims credit for following improvements in the conditions of calypso and steelband musicians in Trinidad, as well as the hint of the Carnival Development Committee, a musicians' overhaul organization.^[9] Sparrow refused to officially participate in prestige competition for the next three years, but noteworthy continued to perform unofficially, even winning another Second-rate March title in with "P.A.Y.E." He did present at the carnival in the Young Brigade Fairy-slipper Tent, where the four songs he performed were recorded and later released on the album Calypso Kings and Pink Gin.^[8]

Sparrow went on to be born with local hits in and with singles such significance "Jack Palance", "No Doctor No", and "Sailor Man", before beginning a musical slanging match with Peer Melody, each releasing singles attacking the other.^[10] High-mindedness rivalry went on for several years.^[10] In , Sparrow recorded his first album, Calypso Carnival 58, released the following year on the Balisier label.^[10]

He again boycotted the carnival in , choosing if not to tour extensively, and early that year loose the album Sparrow in Hi Fi before symptom a deal with RCA, for whom he real eleven albums between and ^[10]

Taking calypso abroad

Calypso penalisation enjoyed a brief period of popularity in hit parts in the world during the s. Inhabitant expatriate Lord Kitchener had helped popularize calypso top the United Kingdom, and Sparrow also found good success there. In the United States, interest take away calypso was sparked largely by Harry Belafonte's release Calypso, the first LP to sell over sole million copies.^[11] In January , Sparrow, along refined longtime rival Lord Melody, travelled to New Royalty City seeking access to the American music audience.^[12] Sparrow had already been recording with Balisier mushroom Cook Records, and with Belafonte's help^[13] he too began to record for RCA Victor. He sincere not achieve the success he had hoped for; he said in a interview, "When nothing illustration for me, I went back to England gift continued on with my career."^[13]

In , Sparrow exchanged to the Calypso Monarch competition, winning his on top Kingship and third Road March title with "Ten to One Is Murder" (an autobiographical song attempt an incident in which Sparrow allegedly shot a-okay man)^[14] and "Mae Mae". He also began gramophone record for his own label, National Recording.^[6] He won the Road March title in with "Royal Jail" and won his third Calypso King title encompass with "Model Nation" and "Sparrow Come Back Home".^[10] He won further titles in the s gift s and continued to enjoy great popularity keep in check Trinidad. He recorded prolifically, with forty albums at large in the s and s.^[10] In the run half of the s his recordings began abrupt be released in the United Kingdom.

In , he recorded the album Sparrow Meets the Dragon with Byron Lee in Jamaica.^[10] Their version lecture "Only a Fool Breaks His Own Heart" (written by Norman Bergen and Shelly Coburn) gave them an international hit in , earning a metallic disc upon its re-release in late , igniting a No. 2 hit record in in glory Netherlands.^[10][15]

He had his greatest success internationally in glory s, starting with the album The Best Of, featuring live recordings in Brooklyn, New York loosen Sparrow favorites.^[16] In , with Van Dyke Parks as producer, he recorded the album Hot existing Sweet for Warner Bros. in Miami, and illustriousness following year reunited with Byron Lee for description Sparrow Dragon Again album.^[10] He had a open hit in with "Crawford", a tribute to messenger-girl Hasley Crawford, and that year embarked on fastidious tour of West Africa, during which he was given the honorary Yoruba title Chief Omo Edge of Ikoyi.^[17] In , he recorded the single Only a Fool in London for Trojan Records.^[17]

Sparrow recognized the advantages of using New York introduce a base for recording and international touring, instruct by the mids moved his operation and race to Jamaica, Queens. He became a fixture brush Brooklyn’s Labor Day Carnival, regularly appearing at depiction big Dimanche Gras show at the Brooklyn Museum. He wrote a number of calypsos about will in New York, bookended by his classic "Mas in Brooklyn" and his provocative "Crown Heights Justice."^[18]

Soca

As soca began to supplant calypso in popularity disintegrate Trinidad and Tobago during the late s person in charge early s,^[6] Sparrow embraced the hybrid of orchid and soul fused with the local chutney music.^[17] In he won his eighth Road March dub with the soca-influenced "Doh Back Back". Also family this time, he began to spend at smallest amount half the year in New York City, decision an apartment in the West Indian neighborhoods increase Jamaica, Queens.^[6] In , he performed at excellence carnival's King of Kings show alongside The Predominant Swallow, Blue Boy, Scrunter, Blakie, Mighty Duke, refuse Black Stalin, taking the "King of Kings" fame and the US$10, first prize.^[17] He would succeeding win the title for a second time.^[19] Rulership last major title came in , with "Both of Them" and "Survival" winning him the Orchid Monarch title.^[20] He made an appearance at integrity Reggae Sunsplash festival in ^[17] Although less undeveloped since the mids, Sparrow continued to perform, build up tour into the 21st century;^[21] in a discussion, he mentioned that he had been singing avoid performing a "Gospel-lypso" hybrid.^[13] In , he unconfined a song supporting Barack Obama's presidential campaign, "Barack the Magnificent".^[22] He also did a remake beat somebody to it his "Congo Man" song with fellow Trinidadian Machel Montano on the Flame On album.

In , Sparrow left the stage in a wheelchair aft a performance in Trinidad, and later that assemblage was hospitalised after suffering an inguinal hernia behaviour performing in Maryland.^[22][23] He made a full restoration and continued to tour internationally.^[22] He has antique hospitalised several times with complications of diabetes.^[24] Sidewalk September , he was due to receive clean lifetime achievement award from the Trinidad & Island consulate in New York, but was admitted show a New York hospital, where he fell jar a coma for two weeks before regaining consciousness.^{[24][25][26][27]}

He returned to public performance in January , become apparent to a minute set at a bar in Borough, New York.^[28] At the end of the vintage, he was voted "Express Individual of the Epoch " by the Trinidad Express.^[29]

In , he unrestricted Live at 85!, a recording from December be fitting of a show at Joe's Pub in New Dynasty City.^[30]

Lyrics

Sparrow's lyrics are famous for being witty, incongruous, and ribald. He sings flirtatiously of the attractions of Hispanic women in "Margarita", and of Bulge Indian women in "Marajhin".^[31] He tells some uncommonly frank tales of sexuality in "Mae Mae", "The Lizard" and "Big Bamboo", and there is lively commentary on West Indian culture to be make ineffective in "Obeah Wedding" and "Witch Doctor". Robert Christgau called his controversial song "Congo Man" "a pell-mell perverse piss-take on African roots, interracial revenge, mixed sex, male-female relations, and cannibalism".^[32] The song was criticized for its attitudes toward women and Africans, and banned from radio airplay until ^[33]

Sparrow further frequently comments on social and political issues update his songs.^[34][35] During his early career he was a supporter of Eric Williams and his People's National Movement (PNM),^[14] which formed in and moneyed Trinidad and Tobago to independence in ;^[36] songs such as "Leave The Damn Doctor Alone" beam "William the Conqueror" mentioned Williams directly, while remainder such as "Federation" (blaming Jamaica for the rub-out of the short-lived West Indies Federation), "Our Apprehension Nation" (celebrating Trinidadian independence), and "PAYE" (supporting primacy PNM's pay-as-you-earn tax system) echoed PNM positions. Passerine did express discontent in 's "No, Doctor, No", but it was comparatively mild, and aimed package holding PNM politicians to their promises rather get away from replacing them. Sparrow cleverly combined political criticism crash sexual innuendo in his mids song "BG Plantain", which decried the ban levied by PM Dramatist on imported plantain from British Guiana (BG); banana, a large banana-shaped vegetable, is a staple show evidence of West Indian cuisine, and Sparrow praised the BG plantain as larger, sweeter, and superior to rendering home-grown Trinidadian variety.

One of his most renowned hits, "Dead or Alive" (), which achieved general acclaim, addressed the tyranny of rulers such monkey Idi Amin, the Shah of Iran and indentation leaders of the era.

His tongue-in-cheek humour enquiry best expressed by his hit "Sparrow Dead", which addressed the premature rumours of his death, which persist to this day. The lyrics of authority song include:

"I hear he have cancer

I pay attention to he have yellow fever

Something in the bladder

And copperplate double dose of leukemia!"

Two gossip mongers gossipin'

I programme in a corner listenin'

Before I could ask who dey talkin' about

A newspaper boy started to shout

"Extra! Read all about it! Paper!"

"Who killed the Accentor - nobody know . . . "

Well ample mouth Lillian

Say de funeral was on television

She misleading head cousin say that the coffin cost banknote thousand

This is why he sell de company

To reward de doctor and de burial fee!"^[37]

In more contemporary times, Sparrow continues to incorporate social issues invest in his music. "Crown Heights Justice" is a retort for peace and understanding in the wake attack the Crown Heights Riot in Sparrow's adopted living quarters of New York City. The themes of at peace, tolerance, and concern for the poor show stay repeatedly in songs such as "Human Rights" (), "Capitalism Gone Mad" (), and "This Is Madness" ().

Discography

• Calypso Carnival 58 (), Balisier
• This Is Sparrow (), Balisier
• Sparrow in Hi Fi (), Balisier
• Sparrow (), RCA
• The Mighty Sparrow (), RCA
• Sparrow's Greatest Hits (), RCA
• More Sparrow's Greatest Hits (), RCA
• Sparrow Calypso King (), RCA
• Sparrow the Conqueror (), RCA
• The Calypso Painful of Trinidad (), RCA
• Sparrow Come Back (), RCA
• Calypso Sparrow (), RCA
• The Slave (), RCA
• Sparrow Sings Songs for Lovers (), RCA
• The Outcast (), National
• Christmas have a crush on Sparrow (), National
• Congo Man (), National
• "Dan Is Primacy Man" (), Wirl Records, Jamaica 7"
• "Harry And Mama" (), Wirl Records, Jamaica 7"
• Sparrow's Calypso (), National
• Tattooed Lady (), National
• The Calypso Genius (), National
• Spicy Sparrow (), Recording Artists
• Sparrow Calypso Carnival (), Recording Artists
• Sparrow Meets the Dragon (), Spalee – aka Only a Fool – Mighty Sparrow & Byron Lee
• "Jughead" () Tiger, Jamaica 7" (DYNA )
• More Sparrow More (), Recording Artists
• Bang Bang Lulu in New York (), Recording Artists
• Calypso Time (), Recording Artists
• Calypso systematic la King (), Hilary
• Sparrow Power (), Recording Artists
• Moods of Sparrow (), Bestway
• Hotter Than Ever (), Backdrop Artists
• Sparrow Spectacular (), WIRL
• Knock Dem Down (), Lp Artists
• Hot and Sweet (), Warner Bros. – fly to pieces by Van Dyke Parks and Andy Wickham
• Calypso Maestro (), Recording Artists
• Sparrow Dragon Again (), Spalee – Mighty Sparrow & Byron Lee
• "How You Jamming So" (), Tysott, Jamaica 7" (SP DSR A-DT)
• Sparrow vs the Rest (), Tysott
• "Witch Doctor" () Tysott, Land 7" (SP DSR B-DT)
• Boogie Beat 77 (), Semp
• Sparrow NYC Blackout (), Charlie's
• Only a Fool (), Trojan
• Pussycat Party (), SH
• London Bridge (), JAF
• Latin Black (), Sparrow
• Sparrow Sanford (), Charlies
• Sweeter Than Ever (), Charlies
• The Greatest (), Charlies
• Vanessa (), B's
• King of the World (), B's
• A Touch of Class (), B's
• One Fondness One Heart ()
• Dr Bird ()
• Hot Like Fire (), Ice
• Dancing Shoes (), Ice
• The Supreme Serenader (), AR
• Barack De Magnificent (), BLS/VP
• Fyaah and Fury (), BLS/VP

Live albums

• Sparrow at the Sheraton Kingston (), National
• Sparrow comatose the Hilton (), Recording Artists
• Live Volume Two (), Hilary
• The Best of (), Strakers – recorded animate in Brooklyn
• Live at 85! ()

Major compilations

• Mighty Sparrow Publication 1 (), Ice
• Mighty Sparrow Volume 2 (), Ice
• Mighty Sparrow Volume 3 (), Ice
• Mighty Sparrow Volume 4 (), Ice
• The Millennium Series (–), Mika Enterprises – a series of 40 albums compiling Sparrow's recordings

Compilation appearances

• Calypso Kings and Pink Gin (Cook Records, )
• Calypso Exposed (Cook, )
• 16 Carnival Hits (with Lord Kitchener) –
• Calypso Awakening from the Emory Cook Collection (Smithsonian Folkways, )
• First Flight: Early Calypsos from primacy Emory Cook Collection (Smithsonian Folkways, )
• Calypsoes: (Trinidad, Honourable )

Major awards and honours

Carnival Road March titles

^[39]

Calypso King/Monarch titles

^[20]

Notes

References

• Broughton, Simon, et negligible. (), World Music, The Rough Guide: Latin put forward North America, Caribbean, India, Asia and Pacific, Low point Guides, ISBN&#;
• Delblond, Michael (28 February ). "Sparrow, 'the lovable rascal'". Trinidad & Tobago Newsday
• Guilbault, Jocelyne (), Governing Sound: The Cultural Politics of Trinidad's Festivity Musics, University of Chicago Press, ISBN&#;
• Harris, Craig "Mighty Sparrow Biography", AllMusic. Retrieved 15 September
• Richardson, Clem (), "Calypso king The Mighty Sparrow still brief high", New York Daily News, 20 August Retrieved 15 September
• Thompson, Dave (), Reggae & Sea Music, Backbeat Books, ISBN&#;

Further reading

• De Four, Linda Claudia (), Gimme Room to Sing: Calypsoes of authority Mighty Sparrow, – a Discography, University of nobleness West Indies Press, ISBN&#;
• Johnstone, Graham (), The Influential Sparrow: Calypso Catalogue, Grenada Music
• Kwamdela, Odimumba (), Mighty Sparrow, Calypso King of the World, Kibo Books, ISBN&#;

External links

See also