Mighty Sparrow arrives for series of shows
He modestly calls himself the Calypso King of the World–and there are few who would dispute his royalty. With a Trinidadian passport in the name of Slinger Francisco, the man who touched down at the P.G.I.A. today is the quintessential Caribbean entertainer.
Janelle Chanona, Reporting
This morning, popular Calypsonian “The Mighty Sparrow” and his band, the T and T Troubadours, arrived in Belize for a series of shows here in the city, in San Pedro and in Punta Gorda. But first things first…
Mighty Sparrow
“First thing I want to get is some Gumagurugu wata. Raymond tell me that. He say fust thing as soon as you reach, get some Gumagurugu wata.”
Janelle Chanona
“So did they bring that for you, I notice you have a layout here.”
Mighty Sparrow
“Not yet. I don’t know if they have it hidden somewhere. But that is not for the band, I’m not going to give the band that. That is all for me.”
Darrel Carter, Deputy Mayor, Belize City
“We would certainly like to, on behalf of the Mayor and the City of Belize, to welcome you to Belize once again. It’s a privilege and an honour to have you at this time, around our twenty-first independence and the Mayor of Belize City is personally inviting you to the ceremonies on Saturday morning to be part of the official celebrations at Memorial Park. So we hope you will accept.”
Mighty Sparrow
“Say no more, say no more.”
Darrel Carter
“You have our permission to mash up the place.”
Mighty Sparrow
“Mash up the place.”
Sparrow says his fans can expect their old favourites plus some new vibrations.
Mighty Sparrow
“You want to hear something new, I can tell you about man’s inhumanity to man and the religious fanaticism. The religion calls for people and the leaders all tell you this, but still the wanton destruction won’t cease, some of them so cold-blooded, heartless and cruel, but excessive hate authenticates a fool. The U.S. ain’t gonna sit back, the economy was bushwhacked because of these suicidal maniacs, Mohammed Atta, etc, etc. If you want these things, you gonna get them. It’s not that I don’t have it…I’m loaded.”
And of course, everyone with a ticket in hand better come prepared to go on bad.
Mighty Sparrow
“My vibes would have to be the audience, the audience makes the show for me. If I have a listless audience, then I give you a listless performance, but if I have an audience that is full of energy then from the time I get out there, they energize you. Even if you don’t feel so good, they sort of demand it and extract it from you.”
Janelle Chanona
“How have ticket sales been going?”
Conrad Flores, P.G. Sports Bar Promotions
“Ticket sales have been going pretty good. We’re looking forward to a big crowd. Sparrow is going come out and just do a real good job for us… Come out enjoy this show it’s for Belize’s twenty-first independence, lets all have a good time.”
Reporting for News 5, I am Janelle Chanona.
Sparrow plays the Belize City Centre this Friday night, the Old Football Field in San Pedro on Saturday and at the P.G. Sports Bar on Sunday. All shows start at nine and tickets can be bought at Venus Photos and Records, Stone Jam and at the Belize City Centre booth between 3:00 and 6:00 on Friday.
