The Legend of Caribbean Calyspo Music The King The MIGHTY SPARROW

Sparrow was born in the fishing village of Grand Roy, Grenada, on July 9, 1935. He moved to Trinidad with his mother, his father having relocated there in 1937, and grew up in Port of Spain.His songs such as Jean and Dinah, May May, Sa Sa Yea, Unity, Melda O, Jail, Pay as You Earn 'PAYE', Age is Just a Number, Drunk and Disorderly, Wanted Dead or Alive, Human Rights, Sexy Marajhin, Capitalism Gone Mad, The Lizard, The More the Merrier, and countless others, are just some of his best known and best praised songs. His songs have put him in the spotlight and earned him worldwide recognition. He is still a prolific performer today, and shows no sign of stopping.The Mighty Sparrow has a string of credits to his name. Chief of the Yorubas, which means "Chief Omo Wale of Ikoy" as he is known throughout Nigeria, and in New York, the late Mayor Ed Koch proclaimed March 18 the Mighty Sparrow Day. With honourary doctorate degrees, doctor of letters from the University of the West Indies, he was inducted into the Sunshine Awards Calypso and Steelband Music Hall of Fame on June 24. Then Brooklyn borough president, Howard Folder, proclaimed June 24, Mighty Sparrow Day. We can take some beauty lessons from him too, especially when it comes to keeping his great smile. His face is still instantly recognizable by multiple generations of fans. The man is a fashion icon and trendsetter within the calypso and soca music industry. There should be a musical about his life; let's hope that someone will produce it soon. Dr Slinger Francisco, the legendary Mighty Sparrow, or as he is fondly known "Birdie", a West Indian calypso icon, celebrates his 81st birthday on Saturday.