CASTRIES, St. Lucia: He is known as the Caribbean and the world's greatest calypsonian and he will be giving his fans and other calypso lovers "a real treat" during a calypso marathon when he stages four shows this week leading up to the celebration of his 70th birthday on Saturday July 9. Slinger Francisco, more affectionately known as the "Mighty Sparrow", said he is feeling fine and “if feeling good is an indication of how long one is going to live then I will be here for a while,” he said. The veteran calysonian made his comment during a recent courtesy call on Trinidad and Tobago's President George Maxwell Richards at the President's official residence. Known to many as the "Birdie" and speaking with that famous mischievous look on his face, Sparrow said he wants to prove the Bible wrong as far as the three score and ten human life span is concerned. He said he plans to be around “for three score and many more.” During the visit, the President congratulated the Grenadian-born singer for having achieved 50 years in the entertainment business as well as the celebration of his 70 years on this earth. According to Richards, Sparrow's calypsos are still relevant and as significant as when they were composed. The President also made reference to Sparrow's achievement as being the only calypsonian to date to receive an honorary Doctor of Letters degree from the University of the West Indies. The singer got that honour in 1987 when President Richards was principal of the University of the West Indies (UWI). He was also honoured by CARICOM at the 11th Regular Inter-sessional meeting in Barbados. The singer has won the national Monarch and the Road March eight times, a feat unmatched by any other calypsonian and according to a release from the Government Information Service (GIS) of Trinidad and Tobago, he has also achieved the unique double of winning the Monarch and Road March titles in the same year three times - 1956, 1960 and 1972 - something still to be matched. "His fans will be in for a real treat," a spokesman reiterated Reprinted from Caribbean Net News caribbeannetnews.com