The Mighty Sparrow (Dr Slinger Francisco) is recovering from a diabetic coma that put him in hospital in Queen’s New York, last September. In a recent interview, Sparrow, now convalescing in a therapy facility in Brooklyn, and clearly in a jovial mood, sang, joked and gave the assurance that he is progressing steadily on the road to recovery.
“Let my fans in Trinidad and Tobago know that the Calypso King of the World, the supreme serenader, the one-and-only Mighty Sparrow is feeling good, and ready to take on all comers in 2014,” he said with trademark bravado, before treating us to a verse and chorus of his 1992 classic Man Will Survive. He then informed that he will be appearing on a programme to be staged at Melanie’s, an upscale restaurant/bar catering to West Indians, on Fulton Avenue, Brooklyn, this Saturday.
“I am choosing my repertoire carefully for this event, as it will also be a form of thanksgiving to the Almighty for granting me an extension of life after all I have been through the past months,” he said. Figaro, who has been a constant visitor to the bard at the facility, said Sparrow has never seemed depressed since coming out of the coma. “He always exhibits a very cheerful attitude, and is well loved and admired by the nursing staff there,” he said.
Last week, Sparrow said: “They think I am strong enough for air travel and to return home. I plan to return home very early in February and I will be performing for Carnival at Tuco Kaiso House in the Queen’s Park Savannah, Port-of-Spain.”
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Sparrow has won the Carnival Road March competition eight times, has been crowned Calypso Monarch eleven times, and has a discography of more than 600 songs. Known for his distinct musical style, clever lyricism, ability to provoke thought with his social commentary, and make fans laugh with his humorous double entendre tales, he is, without a doubt, the Calypso King of the World.