Known as the "Calypso King of the World," the Mighty Sparrow (1935- ) burst on the scene in the mid-1950s and has been a dominant force in calypso ever since. He has recorded over 70 albums, won Trinidad's Calypso King (Monarch) title 11 times, won the Carnival road march title 8 times and has received many other honors. With his 1956 hit, "Jean and Dinah," Sparrow proclaimed his dominance: "Yankee gone, Sparrow take over now!"—a reference to the declining presence of U.S. servicemen in Trinidad after World War II. From the mid-1950s into the 1970s, he was a headliner at the Young Brigade tent every Carnival season, until the tent was renamed "Sparrow's Young Brigade." He also regularly toured the Caribbean, as well as England and the U.S.
With frequent trips to the U.S., Sparrow eventually bought a second home near New York. Much of his recording has been done there. He continues to tour throughout the world and remains the best-known calypsonian of all times.
Jean and Dinah celebrated the departure of American soldiers from Trinidad after WW2.
Obeah Wedding speaks of the Trini version of Voodoo.
DuDuYemi.mp3 a celebration of African roots.
Congo Man Another african theme.
Good Morning, Mr. Walker
An honest approach to matrimony.
Barack the Magnificent
A demonstration that Sparrow is still in business.
Thursday, August 21, 2008
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Hi my fellow calypso loving brother, I truly appreciate your "vault" of Sparrow's hits and also your stories of the past. I was born in Kenya in 1963 and one of the first songs that stayed in my memory for all these years is "Mr Walker" and it's only from your website that I've been able to listen to it after so long. I hope you're enjoying your life out in the Grenadines and may you thrive for as long as you enjoy.
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