By Ingrid Brown, Staff Reporter
MORE THAN 50 Jamaican entertainers and musicians will be performing at benefit concert in the hope of raising a minimum of US$100,000 for the families of the World Trade Centre victims, rescue workers' families and children who have been orphaned as a result of the September 11 tragedy.
The concert, dubbed 'From Jamaica with Love', which is a joint effort by artistes, C.B Smith Park in Florida, the Broward County Commissioners, their Parks Division and the Jamaica Music Federation, will be held on November 25 at the C.B Smith Park in Pembroke Pines, Florida.
Vonnie McGowan of Nostalgia In Gold Inc., producers of the event, said that some of Jamaica's greatest names in the music fraternity have volunteered to be a part of this production.
Names such as Ernie Smith, Glen Washington, Joan Andrea Hutchinson, The Grace Thrillers, Tony Rebel, Lovindeer, V.C, To- Isis, Lloyd Parkes, Dean Fraser, Shinehead, Marcia Griffiths, Junior Kelly, Eddie Fitzroy, Abijah and Sugar Minott, are just some of those who have volunteered to perform, free of cost.
"This event will showcase Jamaica in a very positive way and will be in the spirit of showing our love, support, and reciprocity for the people of the USA, who have supported and contributed throughout the years to our island," Miss McGowan said.
She said she had no problems getting the artistes to volunteer for this effort, as they were more than willing to be a part of the venture. "The artistes have really been very co-operative and some of them are actually thanking me for allowing them this opportunity to do this," she said.
As a former broadcaster in the United States, McGowan said she thought that that was the most fitting contribution the Jamaican artistes could make to a place which has helped foster their development. "I figured that our entertainers have something to be thankful to the United States for, as they rely a lot on tours, record sales and recognition from the US," McGowan said.
She claims to have already identified sponsorship to take care of hotel accommodations and food for the performers while they are there.
"We are trying to get the Jamaica Tourist Board to be a part of this so that we can sell Jamaica as the kind generous people that we are," she said. The event, which will begin from 10:00 a.m. on November 25, will be done in a family setting at the park, with Jamaican food being available.
Based on the advertising support which the event has garnered in the US, McGowan said she is expecting anywhere between 10 and 15,000 persons to attend. "I am confident that this event will be well-received, as it is the Thanksgiving weekend when most families will be home and they can come out to this event," she said.
She also said she has the support of airlines like Air Jamaica as well as hotels in the area to accommodate the artistes they will be taking in. "American artistes have been taking money from their pockets to contribute to this," she said.
Noel Willis, manager of the Grace Thrillers said his group is looking forward to give of their time and talent to this event. "Jamaicans are very generous people and they like to show generosity when it comes to things like these," he said.
Willis said the group had no hesitation about volunteering their time after they realised the authenticity of the event. "As a matter of fact, we are very pleased that we were approached to be a part of this because we have a lot of compassion for people who have become victims of tragedies and so anything we can do, we are willing to do it," he said. Lloyd Parkes, who will be backing a number of the artistes at this benefit concert said this is something he is looking forward to doing. "I like to help rebuild and give back something when it is necessary and so when I was approached I had no hesitation in saying yes," he said.
Ever so often, Parkes said, he has been called upon to do benefit events but he has to be selective in the ones he agrees to do, to ensure that it is being done for the intended purpose. "Based on the nature of the benefit you can know what is real from what is not," he said.
He referred to a recent request for him to perform at a benefit for the flood victims of Portland. "This is something that I will be doing just as soon as they put everything in place," he said.
Desmond Young, president of the Jamaica Music Federation, said this helps to define the close relationship which is usually shared between Jamaicans and Americans.
"Aside from the being in solidarity with the Americans in the time of this great tragedy, the fact is that the entertainers have been doing a lot of work in the US and it is only fitting that they should give of their time to something like this," he said.
Young said he believes that there has been an overwhelming response from the entertainers to be a part of this event. "I know of other people who will be performing at this concert and whose names are not on the list because they are booked for other shows. But these are big names which will definitely be able to attract a large crowd but they are unable to advertise their names because of their commitment to other events, and this just goes to show what humanitarians our artistes are," he said. Based on the line-up of artistes, Young says he has no doubt that if the weather is good then there will definitely be a big turn out for the event.
