Profiles: Heroes, Role Models and Pioneers of Trinidad and Tobago - by Nasser Khan

81 THE MIGHTY SPARROW (SLINGER FRANCISCO) (1935- ) S linger Francisco was born in Grenada, but moved to Trinidad when he was one year old. He grew up in Port of Spain where he attended Newtown Boys’ R. C. School. He is known as Sparrow, the Mighty Sparrow, Birdie and the Calypso King of the world. He was first exposed to music through the choir in school; and with the encouragement of his primary schoolmaster Carl Jadunath, he performed at the Friday afternoon school concerts. He became interested in calypso at 14 when he joined a steel band composed of neighborhood boys. Not only is he a calypso singer and songwriter, he is also a guitarist , a great stage performer and is one of the most well- known and successful calypsonians. He has won both the Road March and Calypso Monarch competition eight times. The Mighty Sparrow became a calypso superstar along with Lord Kitchener, with whom he ruled the calypso world during the 1960’s and 1970’s. His calypsoes covered every imaginable topic, including social and political events. • 1969 Humming Bird Medal Silver • 1987HonoraryDoctorate of Letters, University of theWest Indies • 1993 Chaconia Medal Gold • 2001 Order of the Caribbean Community • 2002 Marcus Garvey Lifetime Achievement Award, Jamerican Film and Music Festival • 2006 Bollywood Music Award (Special Achievement for Outstanding Contribution to Global Music) WILFRED STRASSER (1916-1966) H e was a mas man and sculptor, famous for his individual portrayals in the 1940s, 50s and 60s. He took pride in being as realistic as possible, one carnival in the forties, for example, he thrilled the audience with his portrayal of a huge copper penny which came alive as