Calypso legend Slinger Francisco, the Mighty Sparrow, dies at 91

Slinger Francisco, internationally known as the Mighty Sparrow, died at the age of 91 in New York after a brief illness, his family said. The calypso star, dubbed the “Calypso King of the World,” first broke through with the 1956 classic “Jean and Dinah” and went on to record hundreds of songs such as “Both of Them,” “Congo Man,” and “The Lizard.” Born in Grand Roy, Grenada, he moved to Trinidad and Tobago as a toddler, where his career flourished and he performed at venues like Madison Square Garden.

Cultural historian Dr. Rudolph Ottley described him as a supreme entertainer and cultural revolutionary. He received national honors, including an honorary Doctor of Letters from the University of the West Indies in 1987, and the Trinbago Unified Calypsonians’ Organisation praised his lasting impact on Caribbean music.