Left: Singer Nickeisha Barnes is her sultrybest. Right: Singer Alaine performs at 'Colour Him Father'.

Kavelle Anglin-Christie, Staff Reporter

Sunday night's staging of 'Colour Him Father' at the Hilton Kingston hotel, New Kingston, showed just how performances should be showcased.

The show featured a host of artistes who paid homage to the fathers in the audience and unlike most shows, their performances lasted no more than five minutes, without anyone else hogging the mic.

One of the night's first performers was Nadjay on the violin playing Nat 'King' Cole's Unforgettable while her father accompanied her on the keyboard.

After this, the night's compére, Nadine Rollins kept the crowd amused with some unusual games in which the fathers vied for prizes. One such contest was for three fathers to go on-stage and demonstrate how their babies cried when they were born.

Fans loved the line-up

When songstress Nickeisha Barnes graced the stage the fans loved it. She started off with Mary J. Blige's I'm Going Down, then went into Lulu's To Sir With Love. She also introduced an original piece Sha-la-la, which was followed by Aretha Franklin's Natural Woman. Barnes also delivered a new song, Let's Go with singjay, A-Roy from her production company and though the lyrics were well written, the crowd could have done without actually hearing the song: Barnes' sultry voice only highlighted how unmelodious A-Roy's was.

She finally put the crowd at ease when she returned to her solo set, singing Turn Your Lights Down Low by Bob Marley, featuring Lauryn Hill's to close.

Singer Tamara delivered Wind Beneath My Wings among others, much to the delight of the audience and made way for reggae singer, Etana who opened the Star time segment. Among the songs she sang were, Patti LaBelle's If Only You Knew and two of her own tracks, Wrong Address and What You Gonna Do? She couldn't have asked for a better reception from the crowd.

The night wasn't only about signing though. A few celebrity fathers got a chance to strut the catwalk in Carlton Brown designs. They were: dancer, Orville Hall, CVM TV's Rohan Daley, artiste Prodigal Son, Kool 97's Stokey Love and comedians, Ity and Fancy Cat.

More vocals for dad

Fathers and their families were out by the score at 'Colour Him Father' at the Hilton hotel on Sunday. - photos by Colin Hamilton/Freelance Photographer

Following the fashion show and a few competitions for the dads, a giggly Alaine hit the stage with No Ordinary Love, Rise In Love, Celine Dion's Because You Loved Me and Sacrifice.

Judy Emmanuel, a favourite from last year's show was asked to return because of the overwhelming response. Among the songs she performed were Unchained Melody, Dance With My Father, Only You and My Baby Love and she didn't disappoint. At the end of her energetic performance, she had the crowd standing and cheering and from the look of things, patrons just may be seeing her again at next year's show.

The final act of the night, Pam Hall, took the stage and calmed the the crowd with Cheryl Lynn's Got to Be Real, The Winstons' Colour Him Father, Shirley Bassey's Hey Big Spender among others.

In short, it was quite a night for fathers, who must have felt quite special after such a musical feast.