The Mighty Sparrow, the legendary calypso singer who helped bring the Caribbean genre to international audiences beginning in the 1950s, has died at 91. Born Slinger Francisco in Grenada in July 1935, he died peacefully in New York surrounded by family following a brief illness, according to a statement from his relatives. Francisco moved with his parents to Trinidad and Tobago as a young child, where he developed the Mighty Sparrow persona and launched a career that would span six decades. His family described him as an institution who was admired for his talent as a singer, songwriter and mentor.

Sparrow recorded hundreds of songs and became known for combining infectious rhythms with sharp humor and social commentary. His celebrated recordings included “Jean and Dinah,” “Both of Them,” “Congo Man,” “Mr. Walker” and “The Lizard.” His music also addressed political and historical subjects, including Trinidad and Tobago’s independence, Martin Luther King Jr. and Cold War-era tensions between the United States and Soviet Union. He performed internationally, including at Madison Square Garden, and helped celebrate Toronto’s Caribana festival with his 1972 song “Toronto Mas.”

Sparrow’s death prompted tributes from political leaders and cultural institutions across the Caribbean and beyond. Trinidad and Tobago Prime Minister Kamla Persad Bissessar called him an important part of the nation’s cultural soundtrack, while Jamaican Prime Minister Andrew Holness said his music became part of Caribbean life for generations. Trinidad and Tobago honored Sparrow with national awards, and the University of the West Indies awarded him an honorary Doctor of Letters in 1987. Cultural historian Rudolph Ottley described Sparrow as a “supreme entertainer” and cultural revolutionary whose influence helped advance calypso worldwide.