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Sparrow: I am glad to be 89
...Distressed by T&T crime;

ICONIC calypsonian Slinger Francisco (Mighty Sparrow) had an “enjoyable” 89th birthday at his New York, United States home, with his family and friends on Tuesday. Although he ate a lot and drank fresh juices, he pined for a Carib beer.Asked how he felt about reaching 89, he added: “I am holding on. I am looking forward to whatever else is going to come. I am glad I reached this threshold. If I make one or two more years, I am cool with it. Not complaining. I am not making any noise. Quiet in my corner. I’m not sure when I will be coming home. But I miss home. Everything. Just being home.”

Sparrow, however, said he’s distressed by the murders and crime wreaking havoc in the country.

In a phone interview yesterday, Sparrow, recipient of the Order of the Republic Of Trinidad and Tobago in 2014, said: “It was nice. Enjoyable. I got a lot of phone calls. I was keeping in touch with my children and grandchildren. My family cooked up a storm. I ate and I drank as much as I wanted to. Not alcohol. A lot of fresh juices. I could have sucked a beer...a Carib. But I did not get any.

Wow! no longer lives in Trinidad, didn't know that. Lots of Caribbean ppl. with means nowadays come to US in old age because of easier access to medical facilities.

In reply to Brerzerk

For a lot of elderly people the choice to migrate to the US, or Canada, is done primarily for health care reasons.

He was up here in Canada just before the pandemic and did a few shows. Him and Rudder are living legends of calypso.

In reply to SnoopDog

Another thing not often mentioned about The Birdie is that long before Marley he was the individual Caribbean artist who made attempts to take his works to the world.
With The Dragon (Byron Lee) as back-up he planned tours to cover The Caribbean. I think his album jacket with an aircraft flying by the twin towers was a message that
he wanted to tour and spread calypso/soca to the whole world