[Congressional Record Volume 156, Number 101 (Thursday, July 1, 2010)]
[Extensions of Remarks]
[Page E1276]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]




                   75TH BIRTHDAY OF SLINGER FRANCISCO

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                         HON. YVETTE D. CLARKE

                              of new york

                    in the house of representatives

                         Thursday, July 1, 2010

  Ms. CLARKE. Madam Speaker, I rise today to commemorate the 75th 
birthday of Slinger Francisco, better known as The Mighty Sparrow or 
The Birdie. With a career spanning over 50 years and counting, 
entertaining audiences from the Caribbean to Asia and all points in 
between, The Birdie is widely recognized as the ``King of the Calypso 
World.''
  The Mighty Sparrow was born to poor, working-class parents in Gran 
Roi, Grenada and migrated to his adopted homeland of Trinidad when he 
was one year old. As a child, he attended New Town Boys School and sang 
in St. Patrick's Catholic Church, where his talent was quickly 
recognized as he became head choirboy. His influences included Nat King 
Cole, Frankie Laine, Sarah Vaughn, Billy Eckstein, Frank Sinatra and 
Ella Fitzgerald, as well as calypso pioneers Lord Melody, Lord 
Kitchener, Lord Christo, Lord Invader and the Mighty Spoiler.
  The Birdie had found success early with his hit ``Jean and Dinah'' at 
the age of 20. Not satisfied with early success, he followed up with a 
rapid succession of hits including ``Carnival Boycott'', ``P.A.Y.E.'', 
``Russian Satellite'', ``Theresa'', ``Good Citizen'', ``Salt Fish'' and 
``Penny Commission'' just to name a few. His songs covered a broad 
range of socially conscious topics including education, tyranny in 
Africa, animal cruelty and the welfare of his home of Trinidad and 
Tobago.
  The Mighty Sparrow's accomplishments include multiple Trinidad and 
Tobago Road March Competition titles, multiple Calypso Monarch titles, 
an honorary doctorate from the University of the West Indies, and his 
contributions to music and society led then-mayor Ed Koch to proclaim 
March 18th, 1986 ``The Mighty Sparrow Day.''
  I hope all of my colleagues will join me in celebrating the birthday 
and extraordinary body of work that The Mighty Sparrow has contributed 
during his career as a lyricist, composer, singer, comedian and 
entertainer.

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