Cabaret singers Karen Smith and Christopher McDonald team up to perform 'The Prayer', at First Global Financial Services 'Touch of Culture' event held at the Manchester Clubhouse in Mandeville on October 22. - Photo by Noel Thompson

WESTERN BUREAU:

Oh - my - Gosh! Unbelievable! What an amazing performance? These were few of the many sentiments expressed by patrons, who watched Karen Smith in performance at the Manchester Clubhouse in Mandeville recently.

The Montego Bay-based singing sensation with a voice as clear as crystal, was the guest performer at the First Global Financial Services and First Global Bank's A Touch of Culture event, which combined networking, cocktails and entertainment.

Smith looked rather radiant in her silk green skirt and a spanking white top, which glittered under the lights. No questions asked, from the second she took the microphone the patrons were in for a musical awakening - one which many patrons admitted they had not witnessed by a local cabaret act in recent times.

The band

The Dwight Richards and Friends band comprised Richards as harmoniser; Desi Jones on drums; Dale Haslam on bass and Christopher McDonald on keyboards and vocals.

Utilising the limited space she had, Smith had an intimate mingling with her audience, as she strolled through the crowd. Howard Woods of south Manchester could not resist when she held his hand, serenaded him and shared a brief dance.

Can't Hurry Love and Otis Redding's Dock of the Bay were two of the early shots she delivered. There was an eruption of applauds when she delved into Frankie Lyman's collection and sang Why Do Fools Fall In Love.

"Lord, have mercy. Is it time to leave?" she teasingly asked her audience. A resounding 'NO' was their reply. McDonald joined her to sing The Prayer by Donnie McClurkin and Yolanda Adams. The popular At Last followed and everybody joined in. "You're sounding good to me. Thank you, First Global. It's a real pleasure being here," she said.

The curtains came down as she plucked a medley from the Queen of Soul, Aretha Franklin's, catalogue. They included Natural Woman, Say A Little Prayer, Think and R-E-S-P-E-C-T, which she has certainly earned from the people of Mandeville.