Ministry of Culture Mourns Passing Of The Mighty Sparrow

The Ministry of Culture and Community Development, led by the Honourable Michelle Benjamin, MP, has joined the national community, the Caribbean and the world at large in mourning the passing of legendary calypsonian Dr. Slinger Francisco, “The Mighty Sparrow,” who died peacefully on Sunday, September 27, 2026, in New York at the age of 91.

Born on July 9, 1935, in Grand Roy, Grenada, Francisco came to Trinidad and Tobago as a young child and went on to become one of the most influential figures in the history of calypso and the wider Caribbean music industry. His breakthrough came in 1956, when he won both the Calypso King and Road March titles, launching a career that would carry the voice and stories of Trinidad and Tobago and the Caribbean to audiences around the world.

Over a career spanning more than seven decades, Francisco built a vast body of work addressing Caribbean life, politics, social issues, history, relationships and culture. His enduring repertoire includes “Jean and Dinah,” “Pay As You Earn (P.A.Y.E.),” “Federation,” “Ten to One Is Murder,” “Dan Is the Man,” “Mae Mae,” “Obeah Wedding” and “Congo Man.” He recorded more than 500 songs and over 70 albums, touring extensively throughout the Caribbean and internationally.