Mark Titus, Freelance Writer
Stitchie during his performance at 'Christ In Action' gospel concert, held
at the Ranny Williams Entertainment Centre, Hope Road, on Sunday,
July 2, 2006. - Winston Sill/Freelance Photographer
WESTERN BUREAU:
Stitchie's outburst at the Montego Bay-leg of Genesis 2007 on Monday has earned the wrath of the local organisers, who have vowed not to work with him unless there is some meeting of reconciliation.
Stichie, who came to prominence in the 1980s as a secular deejay, was in a no-nonsense mood when he was called on stage as the closing act at approximately 8:15 a.m. at the Montego Bay Community College.
Greeted by deafening applause and screams, he immediately instructed the large gathering to be silent, ordered a cameramen from a local gospel cable network to "stop taping his performance or talk to his lawyers" as he had not signed to that in his contract.
"While our head office is responsible for organising the event, we will be reluctant to have any arrangement with the artiste without some reconciliatory meeting," said Barrington Sergeant, regional director of Youth for Christ, organisers of Genesis.
Unchristian-like behaviour
"Despite his concerns being legitimate, it is not what he did, it is how he did it. Many Genesis supporters, both Christians and non-Christians, have since spoken to me saying his behaviour was unchristian-like and have sworn not to support any more events in Montego Bay, which involve him."
Stitchie openly compared his working relationship with secular promoters, namely of Sting, where he recently performed, as being better than that of his Christian family.
"Learn from this. God saves from sin, but him nuh save me as no fool," he advised his younger colleagues. The year 2007 is going to be a different year for gospel music in Jamaica. Gospel artistes not getting the respect they deserve."
He also used the medium to accuse fellow gospel artistes of trying to outperform each other instead of ministering to the people. However, the responses of the gathering to earlier performances disagreed with the 'Governor'.
Opening acts for the event included Faulkner Family, Sting of Faith, Mt. Salem Open Bible Dancers, saxophonist Garfield Lawrence, the energetic Norris Gayle and the junior queen of Genesis, Talia Prout.
Master of Ceremony, Steven Allen of Mello FM, and Albert Ferguson, had their hands full keeping the audience entertained through 11 band changes.
Stellar performance
Joan Flemmings did not disappoint. She had the audience eating out of her hands as she sang old favourites flavoured with country and mento-style hits. Such a stellar performance was a hard act to follow, as the once revered Love Singers found out. The group failed to impress.
Jamaica Cultural Development Commission 2003 Gospel Festival winner, Kevin Downswell, gave a very soul-stirring performance, while his 2006 counterpart, Montego Bay's Clive Warren, was not in his usual impressive form.
Local group, New Generation, gave an energy-filled performance which was well received, while Manchester's Young Battalion encouraged the gathering to 'keep on the fiery line'.
DJ Moses belted out a number of hits, including Salvation Is Real (a version of Baby Cham's Ghetto Story). Prodigy showed why he is one of the top gospel deejays, and had the audience singing along He then combined with his bride-to-be Krissy D to sing I Love You, Lord.
Jai followed and demonstrated why he is one of Jamaica's most sought after gospel artiste. The show ended at 8:35 a.m.
