Mighty Sparrow, Trinidad and Tobago calypso singer, dies at 91
Slinger Francisco, the Trinidad and Tobago singer who performed as Mighty Sparrow, has died at 91, his family said in a statement. Francisco, who was known as the “calypso king of the world,” died peacefully in New York on Sunday surrounded by family. His breakthrough came with the 1956 calypso song “Jean and Dinah.”
Slinger Francisco, the Trinidad and Tobago singer known professionally as Mighty Sparrow, has died aged 91, his family said in a statement.
Francisco died peacefully in New York on Sunday surrounded by family, according to the statement.
Known as the “calypso king of the world,” he had his breakthrough with the 1956 hit song “Jean and Dinah.”
THE QUESTIONS THIS EVENT LEAVES BEHIND
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What conditions shaped the international reach of Trinidad and Tobago calypso music?
How might his legacy be assessed differently by audiences in Trinidad and Tobago and elsewhere?
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GLOBAL CURIOSITY MAP · SEPTEMBER 2026