(Video) Though many had given up on him a few months ago when he lay in a coma at a New York hospital , the Mighty Sparrow (Slinger Francisco) , 78, got a new lease on life, it seems, as he performed before a small crowd at Melanies in Brooklyn, for a full hour in a mini concert to raise funds in order to to clear his medical expenses. Sadly, the T&T cultural icon , the man dubbed the Calypso King of the World , is footing the bills for his medical care and his ongoing therapy which helped him to walk into the venue on Saturday night unaided except for a walking stick which he used occasionally, according to the MC of the show Eric St Bernard. While Sparrow was physically frail-as could be expected - he proved that he did not lose his uniquely superb voice and range from the time he opened his set with a rendition of the Our Father, tears in his eyes and his voice trembling when he recalled the late Queens Counsel Karl Hudson Phillips, his Grenadian compatriot, who passed away last week in England at the age of 80 years. Tears flowed among the patrons at the small gathering at Melanies as well until the Birdies backing band, The Sunshine, launched into his repertoire- a part of which is reproduced in this amateur video which was posted online by HueLoy Young. The journey towards Sparrows comeback began two and a half weeks ago, when the Calypso King of the World approached New York based Derek Parsons to help him stage the fundraiser. Parsons, the son of famous record producer Granville Straker whose NY based Strakers record label was the home of many local hits in the 70s and 80s , known in Queens as DJ Derek went about organising the show and said that while the intention was to raise funds he charged a mere US$40, if only because people had just come through the holiday period. He made several calls around for a supporting act and Calypso Rose was the one who came through for Sparrow, even though she had been in Trinidad for the funeral of one of her brothers who died in Tobago and arrived in New York to learn that another brother had been involved in a car accident in Long Island. But the show went on and Sparrow and his musicians are such veterans that there was no need for a rehearsal with the Sunshine band, as they fell in sync immediately to give a heart rending one hour long performance. Naturally, Sparrows return made shockwaves, via social media and Parsons reported that he started receiving calls from Europe and the Caribbean, seeking to engage the Birdie in gigs. But the last word is with Sparrows family, says Parsons, who admitted that while the Birdie is mentally sound and vocally strong,his physical conduction may yet keep him away from his fans , internationally.
Posted on: Mon, 20 Jan 2014 19:01:22 +0000
Trending Topics
Recently Viewed Topics
© 2015