Mighty Sparrow
With his ultra-sweet vocals and lyrics that speak of romance and topical politics, Mighty Sparrow (born Slinger Francisco) rose to the upper echelon of Trinidadian calypso. Best known for his hits "Jean and Dinah" in 1956 and "Carnival Boycott" in 1957, Sparrow is an 11-time winner of the calypso monarchy and an eight-time winner of Trinidad and Tobago's Carnival Road March competition. Born to a poor working-class family in Gran Roi, a small fishing village in Grenada, Sparrow moved to Trinidad at the age of one. Learning to sing in the boy's choir of St. Patrick's Catholic Church, he became the head choirboy. At the age of 14, he formed a steel band to perform at the Carnival, sparking his interest in calypso. Teaching himself to play guitar, Sparrow began to write his own songs. Winning the Carnival competition with "Jean and Dinah," he received a grand prize of 40 dollars. In protest, he wrote a scorching indictment of the Trinidadian music industry, "Carnival Boycott." Despite his refusal to compete in the Carnival contests for the next three years, Sparrow became one of the Caribbean's most successful artists.
© Craig Harris /TiVo
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First Flight: Early Calypsos from the Emory Cook Collection
Asia - Released by Smithsonian Folkways Recordings on 25 Oct 2005
24-Bit 44.1 kHz - Stereo -
Saucy Calypso
Lord Kitchener, Gabby, Mighty Sparrow
Reggae - Released by ICE Records on 15 Aug 2016
16-Bit CD Quality 44.1 kHz - Stereo -
Doh Stop De Carnival
Asia - Released by BLS Records on 1 Jan 1994
16-Bit CD Quality 44.1 kHz - Stereo -
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Sparrow Sings For Lovers (Album of 1963)
Miscellaneous - Released by Caribic on 5 Aug 2023
16-Bit CD Quality 44.1 kHz - Stereo -
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Wanted: Dead or Alive
Reggae - Released by BLS Records on 29 Oct 2001
16-Bit CD Quality 44.1 kHz - Stereo -
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Calypso Carnival
Asia - Released by Bringins Music on 1 Jan 1958
16-Bit CD Quality 44.1 kHz - Stereo