Mighty Sparrow

by Craig HarrisWith 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 Tobagos 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 boys choir of St. Patricks 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 Caribbeans most successful artists.