PROMOTERS SAY: "SPARROW ILL, NOT UNDER THE INFLUENCE"

It was a rather embarrassing night for a number of vintage calypso lovers, visitors and senior citizens when they attended the much talked about ''A Night of Supreme Royalty'' kings in concert calypso show held at the last Grenada Trade Center last Saturday night, February 15th.

Reports reaching GRENADA TODAY revealed that a number of patrons were verbally abused by the so-called Calypso King of the World, Grenada's Cultural Ambassador Slinger Franscisco "The Mighty Sparrow" later that said night after he failed to deliver the goods at the show.

GRENADA TODAY learnt that "Sparrow" who had appeared to be intoxicated, was unable to perform as expected and later verbally abused some of his patrons and threatened to fight with some of them when he was told that he was drunk and that he was an embarrassment to Grenadians and the position he holds.

Reliable sources told GRENADA TODAY on Monday that "Sparrow's"  performance ended in less than five minutes and that he had only sung one verse in two different songs, with his back turned towards the audience, in one of his renditions.

It was reported that a number of patrons walked out of the show while "Sparrow" was performing and that the members of the accompanying band were all upset with his behavior as a professional entertainer.

Reports also indicated that "Sparrow" got into a verbal confrontation with one of the leading musicians on the island who is also a policeman by profession. "Sparrow" is said to have cursed the musician/policeman and threatened to fight.

Several persons who attended the failed show, told our news desk via the telephone on Monday that "Sparrow's" behavior on the night in question was appalling and that he should not be called "Cultural Ambassador", but instead be stripped of his title following a formal and public apology from "Sparrow" himself. They said that, he, is an embarrassment to the Grenadian people and that he should pay the price for his insulting behavior.

The patrons also used the opportunity to call on the present Government in particular the Minister of Tourism and Culture Hon Brenda Hood to withdraw the Diplomatic status afforded to Sparrow who was named Culture Ambassador two years ago during a Carnival show held at the National Stadium.

One person said that a few years ago "Sparrow" had walked out on his audience during a show held at the Tanteen Playing field in St. George's and that the Grenadian public took it lightly. The patrons who supported the show  also express concerned that they had gotten rid of their hand bands the said night after feeling so embarrassed by "Sparrow" and that they will not return to the rescheduled show.

Others claimed that they will not be paying to re-enter the show with out their hand bands, since the organizers had a duty to apologize and advise the patrons of their intention the said night.

One local artist told GRENADA TODAY on Monday that "Sparrow" appeared to be intoxicated and was staggering and held on to one of the speaker boxes (Base-Rig) while on stage. He said that Sparrow did not look ill to him, and that while he was performing he turned his back on the audience.

The well-known local calypsonian told our news desk that during "Sparrow's" performance his words were not clear and that the people in the audience concluded that he was drunk, because of the way he was performing. He noted that the backing band Heat Wave then stop after the audience began vacating the venue.

Meanwhile the organizers of the show, Fantazia 2001 and the Grenada Trade Center on Monday put out a news release apologizing to the patrons of the show. The release indicated that "Sparrow" was unable to complete his performance in spite of his best efforts due to his medical condition, namely diabetes, a condition we (the organizers) have now been made aware of.

The organizers also claimed that they regret any inconvenience and discomfort  that may have arisen and that a rescheduled show will be hosted on Friday March 7th 2003, for those who attended the venue. The promoters also called on the patrons to retain their hand bands to gain free entry to the rescheduled show.

However on Tuesday morning during an exclusive interview with Grenada Today local promoter Mrs. Julia Moore said that ''Sparrow'' was not drunk. "Nobody cannot say that ''Sparrow'' was drunk and that they saw him went to the bar. ''Sparrow never went to the bar'' said Mrs. Moore.

Mrs. Moore told Grenada Today that ''Sparrow'' was seen sitting in the audience from the time he arrived until it was his time to go on stage and that he was not staggering. Moore brush aside reports that ''Sparrow'' had verbally abused the patrons and that a number of patrons had called to say that in-spite of the problem the show was a good one. 

When asked if patrons did conclude from ''Sparrow's'' performance that he was drunk, Mrs. Moore replied that from a layman's point of view he probably appeared drunk on the night in question but after speaking with ''Sparrow'' on Sunday she concluded that it was not because that he ''Sparrow' was drunk but his Sugar had taken a toll on him.

''After speaking to ''Sparrow'' on Sunday at the Foxx Inn where he was staying, I found out that ''Sparrow'' was is an insulin dependent. He showed me a wide range of medication which he has to take and he said that he wasn't feeling well but he just wanted to give patrons a good show and we assumed that his sugar went up instantly, which is why he couldn't complete his performance, added Mrs. Moore. She further added that ''Sparrow'' is very seriously ill  and that for what ever reasons he did not disclosed his medical status.

Grenada Today learnt that ''Sparrow'' had performed a total of sixteen (16) songs during his dress rehearsal earlier that day. According to Moore she is now doing something that have never happened in Grenada and that is host another show. ''We will be holding that show come March 7th to make up for the inconvenience caused because we are a professional organization and we believe that we should do whatever we can to ensure that we maintain our professional image even if it will cost us'', explained Mrs. Moore who also indicated that she have been made to understand that ''Sparrow'' has Leukemia, which is a blood cancer.