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On August 4 of last year the supreme Calypso King of the World, the Mighty Sparrow (Sparrow/the Birdie), “revived” the Lincoln Center for Performing Arts, USA, with an 80-minute concert while seated.
The Center’s senior director of artistic performances, Jordana Leigh, said it was her personal honour to present him.
“The 20th century’s most famous performer of Calypso music…. Trinidadian Calypso King and inimitable vocalist and storyteller…. He’s a legend and an icon…. How do we bring life back; how do we bring culture back? The only person we thought of was the Mighty Sparrow.”
Not only did Sparrow further beautify his legacy then, but 13 months following, he’s contributed, significantly, to strengthening that of the world’s first youngest calypso king, Aaron Duncan.
Twelve years ago, 2010, a few minutes after Duncan, then six-years-old, won his first national (TUCO’s) calypso monarch title at the NAPA, he was privileged to duet on the stage with Sparrow, singing one of Sparrow’s masterpieces, Education, following which, as Duncan said, Sparrow told him, ‘Whenever you are ready to do a song with me, I will do it.’
Aaron Duncan, then six, and the Mighty Sparrow in 2010 at the NAPA performing Sparrow’s Education soon after Duncan won his first National Junior Calypso Monarch TUCO title.
That potential reality played like a stuck stream in Duncan’s head until awoken by a dream that he should make a go for it. In April, he honoured Sparrow’s words and pitched his idea to him of collaborating for this year’s Calypso History Month.
The plan came to fruition on September 7 at Sparrow’s home in New York, with the production of a 3min 30sec music video written, edited, and produced by Duncan, titled, Legacy, released online on October 11.
Aaron Duncan, 19, and the Mighty Sparrow, 87, performing Duncan’s tune, Legacy, during the music video released cut at Sparrow’s home in New York on September 7 of this year, 2022 and released on October 11.
The song refers to the fight being on to keep the legacy of the art form, of the calypsonian, of monarchs, and now, of Duncan, alive.
Duncan said it’s another seed planted to try and entice younger generations to calypso as he doesn’t think enough has been done and is being done to do so.
He sent the lyrics to Sparrow who added his ‘taste’. Duncan said he realised Sparrow’s incapacitation and didn’t trouble to take the studio to his home. Sparrow said he has always been quite impressed with Duncan. He reminds him of himself some 400 years ago, but despite him being baptised as a Seventh-Day Adventist, he still wants to do a bacchanal calypso with him. He also wants to come next year for T&T’s carnival. “There’s more music to be heard from me. I’m ready for action.” Duncan said the production was one of his greatest experiences, and if it could, the experience will be repeated.
The Mighty Sparrow.
In an interview with Guardian media during this year’s carnival season, Sparrow wanted to put his taste, virtually, in the Taste of Carnival but received no traction. He then said he realised that he “has become a lost bird.
Duncan said, “It’s the return of the Birdie. It’s an honour to be part of this historic collaboration. It’s been a decade since we heard the King of Calypso, and now, here he is. This is one for the history books.”
Legacy in part: “Olé olé mama olé!” Duncan gets the feel of the spirit in his soul...But he isn’t giving up, just put him in front a crowd, and let the rhythm of the music and spirit in him create a legacy, because ‘this is our legacy’, and they are doing it legendary, while Sparrow belts out: “It’s the rhythm that hit me; that make me come off meh bed, shake off meh feet - a return of the Birdie.
Musical artiste Aaron Duncan.
Photo courtesy Aaron Duncan
“Oodayyyy, oodayyyy oh, oh, because that is what they know. I’m outside with meh boy Aaron to give them some calypso. We not giving up now. Just put meh in front a crowd. Sparrow come back again with meh boy AD to create a legacy. Just let the people know that the Mighty Sparrow is alive and kicking…”
The video ends with Duncan, the matador, learning of Sparrow’s favourite calypso, which saw the entire bullfighting cast, Sparrow and Duncan, singing the refrain: Ten to One is Murder.
Duncan’s mother, Lydia Duncan, said she feels very proud to see this collaboration with her son and the supreme calypso king of the world. Duncan thanked all who made the production a success.
