Teino Evans, Staff Reporter

Bongo Herman (left), Tony Williams (centre) and Errol Dunkley at Rae Town, last Sunday. - Photo by Tanya Ellis

The legendary Rae Town street dance has become a regular spot for Jamaicans and visitors, especially the more mature who seek to recapture a taste of Jamaican music from days gone by.

And while there may be growing concern over recent rumours that Mayor of Kingston Desmond McKenzie might be seeking to limit the more than 25-year-old street dance to a mere once-a-month occasion, many preferred not to even consider the idea, choosing instead to highlight what the Rae Town street dance means to them and others around the world.

Master drummer and percussionist Bongo Herman, who was among those spotted in the audience when The Sunday Gleaner team visited the Rae Town street dance last Sunday, said "Rae Town a di real vibes place every Sunday."

Nice vibe

Herman, who said he attended the street dance most Sundays, said, "Mi come down yah come listen some a di good tune dem from inna di early '60s. It (the dance) violence-free, people from all walks of life come here, Japanese, Americans and English. It's generally just a nice vibe … di real type of reggae music where it all start from."

Herman also confessed that "Sometime mi come down ya come hear some a my songs dem wey mi not even remember bout."

Errol Dunkley, another veteran Jamaican artiste who was also there, said the Rae Town experience was vital "because it nuh only play authentic reggae music, it is well known all over the world. Is a place where a lot of foreigners wish to know and they know whenever they come here they're gonna hear foundation music".

According to Dunkley, he was not overly concerned about the rumours of Rae Town street dance being limited by the mayor's office, "but I just want to know that it will always be going on, because Rae Town has become a heritage, a legacy".

One Californian reggae singer, Tony Williams, who said it was his first time at the Rae Town street dance, confessed that he now knew what he was missing.

"It's cool. I always heard about it but tonight is the first I've been … but it's cool, nice Jamaican reggae vibes. It's unlike anything we'd experience in LA," he said.

Williams, who said he was in the island for the 12 Tribes of Israel 40th anniversary celebrations held on February 23 at the Ranny Williams Entertainment Centre, said he was also working on his album called Simple Things, which is being produced by Sangie Davis and arranged by Dean Fraser. "All the greats are on there, from Sly Dunbar to Bongo Herman," he said.

Jahmel, a Jamaican singer attached to the Penthouse label, said "Rae Town a one a di few places wey yuh can come hear music in its fullness, an wi still haffi aware a di original ting.

"Other than the people an' di joy, a jus di music," he said.