WINSTON SPARROW MARTIN

Sparrow Martin is a past Alpha student, teacher and band master and is currently Band Master Emeritus at the Alpha Institute and an instructor at the University of Technology, Jamaica. Sparrow was given his nickname allegedly by Sister Ignatius. It's a story Sparrow tells best.

From 1989-2015 Sparrow was the musical director of the Alpha Boys' School. In 2007, he was awarded a Bronze Musgrave Medal for his contributions to music and was awarded a Jamaica 50 Living Legacy Award at the Caribbean Community of Retired Persons Limited's for contributing invaluable service to Jamaica since Independence.

WATCH SPARROW IN THE STUDIO WITH ERNEST RANGLIN RECORDING "JUST WHAT IT IS" (LISTEN).

Martin entered Alpha in the early 1950s. He was tutored by Reuben Delgado and Lennie Hibbert. Initially, he learned to play the trumpet but eventually switched to drums.He played on The Wailers' hit song Stir it Up and American guitarist Eric Gale's acclaimed jazz/reggae album, Negril. He also played on many Carlos Malcolm hits including