Slinger Francisco, the Grenada-born calypsonian better known as the Mighty Sparrow, has died in New York at the age of 91.
Francisco died peacefully on Sunday, September 27, 2026, surrounded by family after a brief illness, according to a statement from his family. No further details about his illness were disclosed.
Known as the “Calypso King of the World,” Sparrow became one of the most influential figures in Caribbean music, using calypso to address politics, social issues, relationships and everyday life while combining humour, storytelling and memorable melodies.
His breakthrough came in 1956 with “Jean and Dinah,” which established him as a major figure in Trinidad and Tobago’s calypso scene. He went on to record hundreds of songs during a career that spanned more than six decades, including “Both of Them,” “Congo Man,” “Mr. Walker” and “The Lizard.”
Born in Grand Roy, Grenada, in July 1935, Francisco moved with his parents to Trinidad and Tobago in 1937, where he developed the stage persona that became synonymous with calypso. He later performed internationally, including at New York’s Madison Square Garden.
The Trinbago Unified Calypsonians’ Organisation described Sparrow as a defining voice of Caribbean culture and a master storyteller whose music helped take calypso from Trinidad and Tobago to audiences around the world.
Sparrow was also recognised for his contribution to Caribbean music. Trinidad and Tobago conferred national honours on him, while the University of the West Indies awarded him an honorary Doctor of Letters in 1987.
His death has prompted tributes across the Caribbean. CARICOM Chairman and Saint Lucia Prime Minister Philip J. Pierre described his passing as a loss for the Caribbean, saying Sparrow used calypso to capture the region’s struggles and triumphs while celebrating its culture.
With Sparrow’s death, the Caribbean has lost one of the central figures in the development and international spread of calypso, a genre in which he spent more than half a century telling stories about the region and its people.
