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Mighty Sparrow, calypso legend Slinger Francisco, dies at 91
Slinger Francisco, the legendary calypsonian known globally as the Mighty Sparrow, has died in New York at the age of 91. His family confirmed he passed away peacefully on September 27, 2026, following a brief illness.
Born in Grand Roy, Grenada, and raised in Trinidad and Tobago, Francisco became a defining voice of Caribbean music. His career spanned seven decades, during which he won eight Calypso King titles and eight Carnival Road March crowns. He was widely celebrated as the ‘Calypso King of the World,’ known for using sharp wit and social commentary to address politics, culture, and the everyday experiences of Caribbean people.
His musical legacy includes iconic hits such as ‘Jean and Dinah,’ ‘Congo Man,’ and ‘Mr. Walker.’ Beyond his artistic impact, his family noted that in his final days, he embraced Christianity and was baptized into the Seventh-day Adventist faith. Tributes have poured in from across the Caribbean, with officials and cultural organizations honoring him as a national icon and a cultural revolutionary.
Entities
Grenada · Mia Mottley · New York · Seventh-day Adventist Church · Slinger Francisco · The Mighty Sparrow · Trinbago Unified Calypsonians’ Organisation · Trinidad and Tobago
Claims
What the coverage asserts, and how many sources carry each claim.
- [● 6 SOURCES] Sparrow passed away earlier today following a brief illness, his family confirmed. antigua.news · caribpulse.com · socanews.com · www.jamaicaobserver.com
- [○ 1 SOURCE] Sparrow won the Calypso King, later Calypso Monarch, title eight times and also captured eight Road March crowns. socanews.com
- [● 6 SOURCES] Slinger Francisco, better known as The Mighty Sparrow, died peacefully in New York on Sunday at the age of 91, according to a statement released by his family. antigua.news · caribpulse.com · socanews.com · www.jamaicaobserver.com
- [● 5 SOURCES] He had been baptised in the Seventh-day Adventist faith before his death. antigua.news · caribpulse.com · www.jamaicaobserver.com
- [● 2 SOURCES] Born in Grand Roy, Grenada, on July 9, 1935, was raised in Trinidad and Tobago from the age of two. socanews.com