DR. SLINGER FRANCISCO (THE MIGHTY SPARROW) (born July 9th, 1935).

"Sparrow was born in Grenada, but was less than two years old when his family migrated to Trinidad in 1937. He made his professional debut in 1954 at the Old Brigade Tent where he sang as the Little Sparrow. In 1956, he changed his name to The Mighty Sparrow, moved to the Young Brigade Tent, and won both the Calypso King and Road March titles; he repeated this double-crown feat in 1960 and 1972.
As his popularity increased, Sparrow would come to be known as "Birdie." In a distinguished career that began in the mid-1950s, Sparrow won a total of eight Calypso King titles: 1956, "Jean and Dinah"; 1960, "Ten to One" and "Mae Mae"; 1962, "Sparrow Come Back Home" and "Federation"; 1963, "Dan Is The Man in the Van" and "Kennedy and Kruschev"; 1972, "Drunk and Disorderly" and "Rope"; 1973, "Happy School Days" and "Same Time Same Place"; 1974, "Miss Mary" and "We Pass That Stage"; 1992, "Both of Dem" and "Crown Heights Justice."
Sparrow also won eight Road March titles: 1956, "Jean and Dinah"; 1958, "Pay as You Earn"; 1960, "Mae Mae"; 1961, "Royal Jail"; 1966, "Obeah Wedding"; 1969, "Sa Sa Yea"; 1972, "Drunk and Disorderly"; 1984, "Doh Back Back." His calypsoes were played by four steelband Panorama winners: 1963 - Dan Is The Man In The Van (North Stars); 1966 - Obeah Wedding (Desperadoes); 1971 - Queen of The Bands (Starlift); 1978 - Du Du Yemi (Starlift).
Sparrow has received numerous awards throughout his career. He received the ultimate honor in July 2001 when his statue was installed in the community of St. Ann's."
(Source:  Angelo Bissessarsingh's Virtual Museum of T&T, July 9, 2023)