BASSETERRE, St. Kitts – THE Mighty Sparrow is recuperating from an emergency surgery done on Sunday (Jul. 25) to treat an incarcerated right inguinal hernia, after he suffered an acute attack of right groin while performing at a venue in Maryland on Saturday, July 24.
According to reports, he was at the Washington DC home of Carlton Joseph, promoter of the show in which he performed, when he began getting severe pains in his right groin in the middle of his set.
SKNVibes learnt that three doctors at the venue tended to the calypsonian and had him taken by ambulance to Montgomery General Hospital in Olney, Maryland, where he was further examined and hospitalised to be prepped for the surgery performed by Dr. George Conrad.
Recently, rumours began circulating that the calypsonian was dead.
In a Tobago’s Newsday article, headlined “Sparrow’s family disgusted with death rumours”, Sparrow’s family has expressed shock and disgust after false rumours began circulating about the death of the icon on Tuesday, July 20, 2010.
The rumours that Sparrow had passed away circulated throughout the airwaves and on various websites, and his family members referred to it as a vicious act.
His wife Margaret Francisco was reported as saying he is alive and well, resting comfortably and still awaiting results from his recent medical tests.
However, the Trinidad Express stated that tears were said to have flowed at the National Academy for the Performing Arts (NAPA) in Port of Spain by the audience, as they were shocked on Saturday night (Jul. 17) watching Sparrow sitting on a chair throughout his performance.
The 75-year-old calypsonian lives in New York and is reported to be suffering from diabetes, which continues to take a toll on his body.
His wife said it was not that the master calypsonian could not walk, but walking has been causing him severe pain over the last month.
The site stated that she said doctors in the US, where her husband has been based for many years, have been unable to pinpoint the cause and are hoping that his recent medical tests would reveal it.
Affectionately dubbed, The Birdie, Sparrow is the unrivaled Calypso King of the World, with a career that spans over 40 years and counting. He has earned that rightful title by defeating every competitor/pretender to his throne.
He has entertained audiences across the globe, including the Caribbean, Europe, Asia, Africa, North and South America, to name but a few.
At the tender age of 20, Sparrow, born Slinger Francisco, emerged as the leading calypsonian with his record-breaking hit Jean and Dinah, (Yankees Gone, 1956 covered by Harry Belafonte).
Throughout the years, he managed to showcase his diversity each year with the release of at least one album dating from the catchy Jean and Dinah in 1956 to Carnival Boycott (1957, a song responsible for the many changes and improvement for mass men, calypsonians and steel band men).
This song was eventually responsible for the formation of the Carnival Development Committee; an organisation that is responsible to assist calypsonians, steel band men and mass men. This committee was fully endorsed by the Founding Father of Trinidad and Tobago, Dr. Eric Eustace Williams.
In addition to capturing the calypso crown in Trinidad and Tobago on eight occasions, he is the recipient of several awards, including his most recent in 2007 for his contribution to culture and the calypso art form which was given by the Mayor of San Fernando on April 12.
