• Skip to main content
  • Skip to secondary menu
  • Skip to primary sidebar
  • Skip to footer
  • Search
  • Things To Do in NYC
  • Art
  • Dance
  • Festivals
  • Film
  • Music
  • Sports
  • Theatre
New York Latin Culture Magazine®

New York Latin Culture Magazine®

World-class Indigenous, European & African Culture since 2012

  • New York
  • Latin
  • Culture
  • Magazine
  • Subscribe
  • Sponsor

Mighty Sparrow

Mighty Sparrow is a living legend of Trinidadian calypso. He is the James Brown of Trinidad.


Mighty Sparrow plays Joe’s Pub

Saturday, December 7, 2019 ~ Mighty Sparrow plays Joe’s Pub in NoHo, NYC at 7pm. $25 + minimums


Mighty Sparrow

Slinger Francisco was born in Grand Roy, Grenada on July 9, 1935. His family moved to Port of Spain, Trinidad when he was an infant.

Francisco started playing in calypso bands in high school. There he was nicknamed “Little Sparrow” for his energetic performances. He later changed his name to “Mighty Sparrow”.

The youngster began winning calypso competitions in Trinidad Carnival. His first hits were “Jean and Dinah” in 1956 and “Carnival Boycott” in 1957. He wrote “Carnival Boycott” to express his frustration that calypso musicians were not well paid, and actually organized a boycott.

Calypso music broke out into the world in the 1950s. Sparrow rode that wave to England and even New York City. His success internationally peaked in the 1970s and Mighty Sparrow became the “Calpyso King of the World.”

Sparrow has bounced back a couple of times from health issues. Now in his 80s, he continues to write and perform. Mighty Sparrow truly is a living legend of Trinidadian calypso.


Calypso is Political and Naughty Too

Sparrow is known for the political commentary in his lyrics. Who knew that calypso was political? Perhaps all folk musics are, in the tradition of the Cuban trova. In times and places where speaking directly might get you murdered, the poetry of music provides an outlet for the people.

Being from the Caribbean, Sparrow’s lyrics are often naughty. He has even had songs banned from the radio. Yet that is how we speak in the Caribbean. When you are poor and live in the countryside, your body may be the only thing you have, and there is nothing else to do. So sexuality is more on the surface than in some other cultures and situations.

With full respect for the #MeToo era, nobody should be offended by the naughty lyrics of the Caribbean.

A Mighty Sparrow concert is a chance to relive the days before life was reduced to Starbucks everywhere and an Instagram selfie. God bless Mighty Sparrow, the Calypso King of the World.


SummerStage

Friday, July 5, 2019 ~ Mighty Sparrow and CASYM Steel Orchestra play Trinidadian Calypso for SummerStage at Springfield Park in Springfield Gardens, Queens on Friday, July 5, 2019 at 7pm. FREE

CASYM Steel Orchestra is (Caribbean American Sports and Cultural Youth Movement). The group from East Flatbush, Brooklyn teaches steel pan culture.

The SummerStage stage is along Springfield Blvd between 147th & 146th Ave.


Published December 7, 2019 ~ Updated January 16, 2023.

Filed Under: Calypso, Latin Folk, MUSIC, Trinidadian

Subscribe

Get New York Latin Culture Magazine weekly in your email. We don’t share, rent, or sell addresses. You can unsubscribe at any time.

Primary Sidebar

Things to Do in NYC

January, February, March, April, May, June, July, August, September, October, November, December

Cuban Funk

Cimafunk in 2024 (Carnegie Hall)

Cimafunk “Pa’ Tu Cuerpa Tour” Has “The James Brown of Cuba” Getting Funky for Carnegie Hall’s “Nuestros Sonidos” Festival of Latin Culture

Spanish Classical Music

Teatro Real, Royal Opera of Madrid Orchestra Gala Musical Fantasy From Spain (Teatro Real)

Teatro Real, the Royal Opera of Madrid Orchestra, Plays a Gala Musical Fantasy From Spain Featuring Violinist María Dueñas, Soprano Saioa Hernández, and Conductor David Afkham

Nuestros Sonidos Latin Culture

Nuestros Sonidos at Carnegie Hall (Sol Cotti)

Carnegie Hall’s “Nuestros Sonidos” (Our Sounds) Festival of Latin Culture

Theatre Professionals ~ Employers Network

Find your next project. Discover your next team. Do it on RISE.

Sponsored By The Best Of New York

92nd Street Y, New York

Capulli Mexican Dance Company 🇲🇽

Brooklyn Museum

Carnegie Hall

Harlem Stage

Hostos Center

Melvis Santa & Jazz Orishas 🇨🇺

Metropolitan Opera

National Indigenous Peoples of the Americas Parade 🇺🇸

New York City Center

NYU Skirball Center

RISE Theatre Directory

Teatro Real ~ Royal Opera of Madrid 🇪🇸

World Music Institute

Footer

Search

Things to do in NYC

January, February, March, April, May, June, July, August, September, October, November, December

New York City

Bronx, Brooklyn, Manhattan, Queens, Staten Island ~ New Jersey

Latin Music and Dance

Bachata, Ballet, Cumbia, Classical, Flamenco, Hip Hop, House, Jazz, Merengue, Modern Dance, Opera, Pop, Reggaeton, Regional Mexican, Rock, Salsa, Samba, Tango, World Music

North American

African American, Honduran, Indigenous, Jewish, Mexican

Caribbean

Cuban, Dominican, Haitian, Puerto Rican, Trinidadian

South American

Argentine, Bolivian, Brazilian, Chilean, Colombian, Ecuadorian, Peruvian, Venezuelan

African

African American, Nigerian, South African

European

French, Portuguese, Spanish

Follow

X, Facebook, Instagram, LinkedIn, Pinterest, Threads, YouTube, TikTok

Subscribe

Get New York Latin Culture Magazine in your email

advertise

Sponsor

Details

Terms & Conditions | Privacy Policy | Cookies Policy

New York Latin Culture Magazine® and Tango Beat® are registered trademarks, and New York Latin Culture™ is a trademark of Keith Widyolar. Other marks are the property of their respective holders.

Copyright © 2012–2025 New York Latin Culture Magazine®. All Rights Reserved.

We use cookies to ensure that we give you the best experience on our website. If you continue to use this site we assume you are ok with it.Ok