Mel Cooke, Freelance Writer

Capleton - File

When Claudette Kemp, Capleton's personal manager, welcomed those gathered in the Jonkanoo Lounge of the Hilton hotel, New Kingston, on Tuesday evening, she made an observation about the firebrand deejay.

"He is the first person I have met who wants to give away everything he has," she said.

It was not a surprise, then, that at the official presentation of 'A St. Mary Me Come From', Capleton's annual concert which this year will be staged at the Gray's Inn Sports Complex, Annotto Bay, on August 5, planned donations from the proceeds were announced.

This year's beneficiaries in St. Mary are the St. Mary Police Youth Club, Star Cosmo's Football Club, 3D Projects (Highgate), Islington High School, Martins Primary School, Enfield Primary School, Jack's River Primary School and Annotto Bay All Age School. Outside the parish, Oberlin High School and Haile Selassie High School will benefit from the concert.

Martins Primary will receive a commercial printer, six computers will go to the lab at Islington High and the facility, which was donated by Capleton in the first place, will also be tiled. At Annotto Bay All Age the sports teams will be provided with uniforms.

This year's line-up

The performers at this year's 'St. Mary Me Come From', which will begin at 6:00 p.m. after a children's treat during the day, include Capleton, Sizzla, Ninja Man, Bounty Killer, Beenie Man, Elephant Man, Mavado, Munga Honourable, Spragga Benz, Lady Saw, Tarrus Riley and Teflon, among many, many others.

Desi Young, president of the Jamaica Federation of Musicians, noted that while some persons stage events and help people from time to time, "this event by Capleton I have watched over the years and they never fail to live up to what they promised". And Professor Carolyn Cooper pointed out that "when we talk of corporate sponsorship in Jamaica we don't usually talk of deejays and musicians. We have to recognise the important work the artistes are doing, making us aware of how the benefits coming out of the music industry canbe put back into the economy".

And she lamented how people in Jamaica still do not understand the role that the music industry plays in national development. "The music industry contributes more than agriculture right now to Jamaica's economic development," Cooper said to applause.

In the case of 'St. Mary Mi Come From', it has also contributed to the development of the youth. Sergeant Harvey of the St. Mary Police said that since 2003 the police youth clubs in the parish have been one of the concert's main beneficiaries. Since then, "we have seen a massive expansion in the youth clubs in the division. We have formed 10 clubs. One of the things that keeps young people in the club issports". As such, the Clifton 'Capleton' Bailey six-a-side football competition is a key part of the effort.

Last year $100,000 from 'St. Mary Mi Come From 2006' went towards providing prizes for that competition. The major beneficiary was the Annotto Bay Hospital and Mr. Francis, a representative of the hospital, said that it went towards building a critical care nursery.

"It came at a time when the hospital was under expansion. This contribution could not have come at a better time," he said.

Dr. Carolyn Cooper.- Winston sill/freelance photographer