BASSETERRE, St. Kitts - CALYPSO legend, 78-year-old Slinger ‘The Mighty Sparrow’ Francisco of Trinidad and Tobago is not dead as false online rumours suggest, but is in a coma at a New York City hospital in the USA, where he was admitted either this week or last week.
Online media house, urbanislandz.com, on Monday (Sept. 10) published an article with the headline: ‘Rumour Cotrol: Mighty Sparrow is NOT dead’ in which a close source is quoted confirming that the singer is in fact alive.
“Mighty Sparrow is still alive and people should stop spreading false news. His condition has not changed and he remains in the hospital.”
Last night (Sept.11), via the popular social network, Facebook, the Arts and Entertainment Editor at Trinidad and Tobago Guardian Newspaper, Peter Ray Blood, made a personal status to quash rumours surrounding reports that the Mighty Sparrow has died.
Blood’s status read: “A word to wise. Unless his wife Margaret, or children, Gina, Karen, Michelle or Sancho, or his doctors, confirm that he is dead, the Mighty Sparrow is alive, in a coma, in a hospital ward in Queens, New York, USA. Please STOP distressing his family with unsubstantiated rumours and false posts.”
This posting was shared by the Trinidad Guardian’s official Facebook fan page, where it was first seen by this media house.
SKNVibes spoke with Blood who gave permission to use the details of his status in this report.
In an article dated Sept. 8 on www.trinidadexpress.com, a brief statement, apparently from the iconic musician’s family, stated, "The family of Slinger Francisco The Mighty Sparrow is sad to announce that the Calypso King Of The World is in a New York hospital in a coma. The family is asking fans and the people of Trinidad and Tobago to pray for him and to respect their privacy. An update on his progress will be announced."
According to that media house, Sparrow was supposed to be presented a lifetime achievement award last Thursday (Sept.5) by the Trinidad and Tobago Consulate in New York.
It was further revealed that “the calypsonian did not attend the ceremony and instead sent his son, Richard Francisco, to receive the award on his behalf, with a message that he was unable to attend the function”.
The Mighty Sparrow ‘s most recent public show was at ‘The Doctors in Concert’ held in Trinidad in August, where he performed alongside fellow calypso veteran 72-year-old Dr. Leroy ‘Mighty Stalin’ Callist.
The Mighty Sparrow is known for a number of classic hits such as ‘Melada’, ‘The Lizard’ and ‘Lying Excuses’. To date, he has won eight monarch crowns and eight Road March titles in ‘The land of Steel Band and Calypso’ which, of course, is Trinidad and Tobago.
Notably, he was born on the island of Grenada but migrated to Trinidad and Tobago at 18 months old with his parents and older brother.
