Slinger Francisco ORTT CMT (born July 9, 1935), better known as Mighty Sparrow, is a calypso singer, songwriter, and guitarist of Trinidadian citizenship.
Known as the "Calypso King of the World", he is one of the best-known and most successful calypsonians.
He has won Trinidad's Carnival Road March competition eight times, Calypso King/Monarch eight times, and has twice won the Calypso King of Kings title.
Born July 9, 1935, in a small fishing village of Grand Roy, Grenada, he relocated to Trinidad & Tobago in 1937. He started singing in the choir at New Town Boys RC School and at age 14 joined a steel band comprised of neighbourhood boys.
He was given his performing name “Little Sparrow” during his early career as a calypsonian, on account of his energetic stage performances. His first performance as a professional calypso singer came in 1954 with the song The Parrot and the Monkey, and he went on to have such hits as Jean and Dinah, The Queen’s Canary, Yankees Gone; and who would forget Mae Mae, The Lizard, The Big Bamboo, and many more great hits.
Sparrow’s career expands over fifty years during which he has won many awards and honors. He has been very successful in England, the USA and the world over. In 1977 he embarked on a tour of West Africa, during which he was given the honorary Yoruba title, Chief Omo Wale of Ikoyi. His works cover every imaginable topic from humor, history, social and political commentary, to science and necromancy - and are the basis of which he was conferred with an honorary Doctor of Letters from The University of the West Indies. He was also awarded Trinidad and Tobago’s highest award ‘The Order of the Republic of Trinidad and Tobago’ (ORTT).
The Steel Drum or Steel Pan and Steel Bands should come back 100% for New York WI Labor Day Carnival 2021. Reason why you might ask?. The noise problem with the big sound systems in the carnival seems to becoming problematic in NY.
Replace the big sound systems with smaller sound systems and mostly Steel Bands. This will enhance the Caribbean culture, people, food & music and keep steel pan alive.
By Brian Kool.
History of the Steel Pan.
Steel drums, also known as pans, are the only family of chromatic, acoustic instruments invented in the twentieth century. They hail from Trinidad, and their fascinating history is inextricably linked to the culture and resiliency of the Trinidadian people.
Ellie Mannette, Winston “Spree” Simon, and Tony Williams are credited as pioneers of the steel drum, creating the 12 notes of the chromatic scale on a single pan.
The steel drums have continued to evolve to this day. They are now the national instrument of Trinidad and Tobago, having ascended from the most depressed areas of society to glamorous concert halls around the world. They truly are the voice of a diverse, multi-cultural people.
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