00:05The electrifying mighty Sparrow, who for more than 60 years reigned as the King of Calypso,
00:11released about 50 albums showcasing his smooth vocals on ballads
00:15and a rousing winking flair for party songs and soca,
00:19remembered by fans as his songs played in tribute at VP Records in Jamaica
00:23and Sheriff's Street Restaurant and Lounge in Richmond Hill.
00:27He was the greatest singer in the whole of the Caribbean.
00:29He was very down to earth.
00:35The icon, the legend, you know, my friend.
00:39Edwin Howell considered the legend a father figure
00:42and helped put together a popular anthology of his music in 2011.
00:46From the Gina Dinah, the Obia Wedding, the Maria, Only a Fool, Lion Excuses.
00:53He was born Slinger Francisco in Grenada and migrated to Trinidad at one years old.
00:58He sang in his church choir.
01:00Then as a teenager, he was enchanted by Calypso and brought it to the world.
01:04Loved ones tell me it was decades ago that he moved into this building in Jamaica, Queens on 168th Street,
01:10at first splitting his time between here and the Caribbean.
01:13He lived in Queens and he passed in Queens.
01:16We're thinking about all he's meant, you know, for a lot of us, like him, migrants to New York.
01:22He brought this incredible journey.
01:25He spoke for all of us, some of his fans said.
01:29He said.
01:30He said.
01:31He said.
01:32He said.
