ST
GEORGE’S, Grenada, Wednesday August 08, 2012 – The Mighty Sparrow, widely
recognised as the Calypso King of the World, was recently honoured in his
birthplace Grenada.
Sparrow
(Slinger Francisco) was born on July 9, 1935 in Grand Roy in Grenada’s west
coast parish of St John. As a one-year-old he was taken to Trinidad where he
embraced the calypso artform and became its greatest exponent.
He
has won the Calypso Monarch and Road March titles of Trinidad and Tobago almost
20 times since his first victory in 1956 when he bagged both the Calypso
Monarch and Road March crowns with “Jean and Dinah”.
In
a career spanning nearly six decades, he has sung on a variety of topics, often
collaborating with master songwriter Winsford “Joker” Devine. Their
collaboration is documented in the book “The Progress of Winsford Devine”.
Sparrow’s
hits have run the gamut from serious social commentary to playful comedy and
include such enduring classics as Martin Luther King; 60 million Frenchmen;
Education; No. 69; Royal Jail; Benwood Dick; Miss Tourist; Sa Sa Ay; Obeah Wedding; Drunk and
Disorderly; Federation; Idi Amin; Congo Man; May May; Doh Back Back; Carnival
Boycott; Theresa; Pay As You Earn; Dan is the Man in the Van; Village Ram;
Melda; We Like It So; and Soca Pressure – to name a few.
Sparrow,
aka “The Birdie”, has received numerous accolades for his contributions to
Caribbean culture and entertainment. Included are awards from the Trinidad and
Tobago government and the Caribbean Community (CARICOM), as well as an honorary
doctorate from the University of the West Indies.
The
latest tribute to the master calypsonian took place in Grand Roy and included a
cultural show and the unveiling of a plaque honouring Sparrow as well as a
roadside wall bearing a portrait of the 77-year-old musician.
The
event was attended by scores of St John residents including Governor General
Sir Carlyle Glean; Minister of Tourism, Civil Aviation and Culture, Dr George
Vincent; and former Senator Arley Gill, a past culture minister.
The
governor general congratulated Sparrow for writing Grenada’s name “boldly on
the world” and also commended him on his “achievements and contribution to
music, particularly calypso”.
Vincent
welcomed Sparrow “home” and recalled listening to the calypsonian’s use of
French patois in many of his songs.
The
minister disclosed that his father was a big Sparrow fan, who collected and
played his music at home. He added that the songs were his introduction to
learning patois and also helped him to “develop a love for literature”.
Sparrow,
in brief remarks, expressed appreciation for the honour bestowed on him in his
birthplace.
Source: http://www.caribbean360.com/index.php/news/grenada_news/605903.html#ixzz238VGF8oY
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