Beres Hammond fans will have to preserve the moments created at his previous 'A Moment in Time' concerts, as plans for this year's show have been scrapped.

Hammond, one of Jamaica's most endearing reggae singers, had plans to keep the third 'A Moment in Time' in December, before being set back by personal issues, specifically the death of his mother in August.

"With all the personal things, there wasn't sufficient time to get it to the level that the fans deserve," said Hammond.

A stickler for detail and quality, Hammond, with the creative forces of Martin Lewis and Robert Chantrelle of TEAM Solutions behind him, staged his first concert in 2007 at the National Indoor Sports Centre. With an intimate set-up, the natural magnetic pull of Hammond and a strategy of not revealing guest artistes, the show was deemed a huge success.

second concert

The second concert was held at a transformed National Stadium last December with American soul singer Freddie Jackson the main surprise act.

Hammond said it was tough accepting there would be no show this year.

"Sitting here right now I can't believe that it's not going to happen. Last year this time we were very busy getting things together for the show," he said. "This concert is so dear to me, but I didn't want to compromise the quality of the show by rushing it."

Hammond, who also lost an older brother two weeks ago, admitted the passing of his mother, affectionately called 'Dy-dy', in August was particularly soul-draining.

"She was the apple of my eye and the rhythm of my life," he said with a simple sincerity that has been the hallmark of songs such as She Loves Me Now and One Step Ahead.

In an interview with The Gleaner last year, Hammond said as a youth pursuing music, while his father discouraged him because of the difficulties artistes faced, his mother was the quiet force propelling him to success.

"No bigger Beres fan never deh bout than 'Dy-dy'," he tells The Sunday Gleaner. "She know everyone a mi song them and every weh she go she talk bout mi."

A Moment In Time is also the title of Hammond's last studio album, which includes tracks such as I Feel Good, I Surrender and Angel, which was written for his mother.

- LeVaughn Flynn