http://www.rhapsody.com/goto?rcid=art.27340&variant=artist-playlists&rws=%2Fthe-mighty-sparrow%2Fplaylists.rssIf the sparrow is the biblical symbol for the common man, the Mighty Sparrow's moniker is pretty darn accurate. The singer has made a career of speaking truths to power since he first took up a mic when he was just 20 years old. A Grenadan by birth who moved to Trinidad when he was a year old, Slinger Francisco grew up singing liturgical works (in Latin) as head choirboy in his church. But his ears were never limited: he listened to American jazz and pop singers as well as the early calypsonians of his day -- Lord Melody, Lord Invader, Lord Kitchener -- and he joined them in 1956 with his breakout hit "Jean and Dinah." Quickly nicknamed "Sparrow" for his flitting onstage presence, which contrasted sharply with the solid, accusing stance of most calypsonians, he added the "Mighty" and became a phenomenon, winning the annual Road March competition year after year and even scoring a triple win in 1958 for "P.A.Y.E.," "Russian Satellite" and "Theresa." His humorous and pointed social commentary has helped define Trinidadian national culture, and over the years the Sparrow has kept himself relevant by adopting the soca stylings his contemporaries turned their noses up at. He's also grown more lewd over the years, earning his latest nickname, "Dirty Old Man." - Sarah BardeenSocaen720Tue, 29 Dec 2009 06:30:53 -0800 http://static.realone.com/rotw/images/logo_rhapsody_113x22.gif http://www.rhapsody.com/goto?rcid=art.27340&variant=artist-playlists&rws=%2Fthe-mighty-sparrow%2Fplaylists.rss If the sparrow is the biblical symbol for the common man, the Mighty Sparrow's moniker is pretty darn accurate. The singer has made a career of speaking truths to power since he first took up a mic when he was just 20 years old. A Grenadan by birth who moved to Trinidad when he was a year old, Slinger Francisco grew up singing liturgical works (in Latin) as head choirboy in his church. But his ears were never limited: he listened to American jazz and pop singers as well as the early calypsonians of his day -- Lord Melody, Lord Invader, Lord Kitchener -- and he joined them in 1956 with his breakout hit "Jean and Dinah." Quickly nicknamed "Sparrow" for his flitting onstage presence, which contrasted sharply with the solid, accusing stance of most calypsonians, he added the "Mighty" and became a phenomenon, winning the annual Road March competition year after year and even scoring a triple win in 1958 for "P.A.Y.E.," "Russian Satellite" and "Theresa." His humorous and pointed social commentary has helped define Trinidadian national culture, and over the years the Sparrow has kept himself relevant by adopting the soca stylings his contemporaries turned their noses up at. He's also grown more lewd over the years, earning his latest nickname, "Dirty Old Man." - Sarah Bardeen http://www.rhapsody.com/goto?rcid=ply.30792650&variant=play&rws=%2Fthe-mighty-sparrow%2Fplaylists.rss World/Reggae Mon, 28 Dec 2009 09:23:33 -0800 Playlists Featuring The Mighty Sparrow on Rhapsody Online 30792650 ply.30792650 http://www.rhapsody.com/goto?rcid=ply.30792650&variant=play&rws=%2Fthe-mighty-sparrow%2Fplaylists.rss http://www.rhapsody.com/goto?rcid=ply.26904411&variant=play&rws=%2Fthe-mighty-sparrow%2Fplaylists.rss World/Reggae Thu, 12 Nov 2009 19:06:27 -0800 Playlists Featuring The Mighty Sparrow on Rhapsody Online 26904411 ply.26904411 http://www.rhapsody.com/goto?rcid=ply.26904411&variant=play&rws=%2Fthe-mighty-sparrow%2Fplaylists.rss http://www.rhapsody.com/goto?rcid=ply.23450941&variant=play&rws=%2Fthe-mighty-sparrow%2Fplaylists.rss Alt/Punk Wed, 23 Sep 2009 09:48:08 -0700 Playlists Featuring The Mighty Sparrow on Rhapsody Online 23450941 ply.23450941 http://www.rhapsody.com/goto?rcid=ply.23450941&variant=play&rws=%2Fthe-mighty-sparrow%2Fplaylists.rss http://www.rhapsody.com/goto?rcid=ply.18832792&variant=play&rws=%2Fthe-mighty-sparrow%2Fplaylists.rss World/Reggae Thu, 26 Mar 2009 17:51:31 -0700 Playlists Featuring The Mighty Sparrow on Rhapsody Online 18832792 ply.18832792 http://www.rhapsody.com/goto?rcid=ply.18832792&variant=play&rws=%2Fthe-mighty-sparrow%2Fplaylists.rss http://www.rhapsody.com/goto?rcid=ply.18119204&variant=play&rws=%2Fthe-mighty-sparrow%2Fplaylists.rss Rock/Pop Wed, 1 Jul 2009 13:32:52 -0700 Playlists Featuring The Mighty Sparrow on Rhapsody Online 18119204 ply.18119204 http://www.rhapsody.com/goto?rcid=ply.18119204&variant=play&rws=%2Fthe-mighty-sparrow%2Fplaylists.rss http://www.rhapsody.com/goto?rcid=ply.18119198&variant=play&rws=%2Fthe-mighty-sparrow%2Fplaylists.rss Rock/Pop Fri, 25 Jan 2008 09:56:55 -0800 Playlists Featuring The Mighty Sparrow on Rhapsody Online 18119198 ply.18119198 http://www.rhapsody.com/goto?rcid=ply.18119198&variant=play&rws=%2Fthe-mighty-sparrow%2Fplaylists.rss http://www.rhapsody.com/goto?rcid=ply.15635332&variant=play&rws=%2Fthe-mighty-sparrow%2Fplaylists.rss Soul/R&B Sat, 29 Nov 2008 10:52:25 -0800 Playlists Featuring The Mighty Sparrow on Rhapsody Online 15635332 ply.15635332 http://www.rhapsody.com/goto?rcid=ply.15635332&variant=play&rws=%2Fthe-mighty-sparrow%2Fplaylists.rss http://www.rhapsody.com/goto?rcid=ply.9806904&variant=play&rws=%2Fthe-mighty-sparrow%2Fplaylists.rss Rock/Pop Thu, 12 Nov 2009 19:05:54 -0800 Playlists Featuring The Mighty Sparrow on Rhapsody Online 9806904 ply.9806904 http://www.rhapsody.com/goto?rcid=ply.9806904&variant=play&rws=%2Fthe-mighty-sparrow%2Fplaylists.rss http://www.rhapsody.com/goto?rcid=ply.9322684&variant=play&rws=%2Fthe-mighty-sparrow%2Fplaylists.rss World/Reggae Thu, 12 Nov 2009 19:06:04 -0800 Playlists Featuring The Mighty Sparrow on Rhapsody Online 9322684 ply.9322684 http://www.rhapsody.com/goto?rcid=ply.9322684&variant=play&rws=%2Fthe-mighty-sparrow%2Fplaylists.rss http://www.rhapsody.com/goto?rcid=ply.8918038&variant=play&rws=%2Fthe-mighty-sparrow%2Fplaylists.rss World/Reggae Mon, 25 May 2009 08:13:24 -0700 Playlists Featuring The Mighty Sparrow on Rhapsody Online 8918038 ply.8918038 http://www.rhapsody.com/goto?rcid=ply.8918038&variant=play&rws=%2Fthe-mighty-sparrow%2Fplaylists.rss http://www.rhapsody.com/goto?rcid=ply.8915612&variant=play&rws=%2Fthe-mighty-sparrow%2Fplaylists.rss World/Reggae Fri, 13 Nov 2009 12:37:20 -0800 Playlists Featuring The Mighty Sparrow on Rhapsody Online 8915612 ply.8915612 http://www.rhapsody.com/goto?rcid=ply.8915612&variant=play&rws=%2Fthe-mighty-sparrow%2Fplaylists.rss http://www.rhapsody.com/goto?rcid=ply.8636038&variant=play&rws=%2Fthe-mighty-sparrow%2Fplaylists.rss World/Reggae Mon, 21 Dec 2009 09:57:15 -0800 Playlists Featuring The Mighty Sparrow on Rhapsody Online 8636038 ply.8636038 http://www.rhapsody.com/goto?rcid=ply.8636038&variant=play&rws=%2Fthe-mighty-sparrow%2Fplaylists.rss