Mel Cooke, Freelance Writer

Professor Nuts

Driving on to the grounds of Dinthill Technical High School, Linstead, St Catherine, close to 11 p.m. on Saturday, it was hard to believe that a tribute concert to a major performer was happening.

The cluster of persons in front of the stage in one corner of the sports ground almost seemed more than the number of persons advertised for the concert in honour of deceased multiple Festival Song Contest winner Stanley Beckford. And although the audience, did grow appreciably, it was a matter of growth of a mite which never got anywhere close to mighty.

But while the tribute concert was short on audience it was substantial on performers, as almost all who were advertised showed up, Ken Boothe commenting "it's all about Stanley. It's unfortunate that this show didn't get more support, for Stanley is an outstanding figure in the music". And it was huge on appreciation for Beckford, Fab Five's Frankie Campbell noting that the band was "very close to Stanley. That's why we are here, to preserve the memory of Stanley Beckford."

Focus

Fabulous Five replaced Cornerstone close to midnight. "We know that Stanley would love this one," Grub Cooper said, before the band did Shaving Cream. It was a night when there was no jostling for later positions, the focus being on honouring Beckford. As such, Yellowman was first up after Fab Five closed ("Yu fi call dem Fabulous Five. When yu call dem Fab Five e soun' too much like soap," he said), deejaying "dis one dedicated to you". With high steps to the beat, witty observations and hip prods, Yellowman included I'm Getting Married, Blueberry Hill and Three Nights a Week, the lighters and hands duly going up for It Haffi Bun as he hailed "Uncle Stanley".

Roy Rayon opened uptempo, coaching the audience in the "ley ley ley" of Another One Come and passing on Love Fever. He delayed Give Thanks and Praises, although Fab Five started it twice, and when he did do it, the song lacked the accustomed impact.

Much fun

Heather Grant noted how much fun it was to be around Stanley Beckford and his appreciation of the ladies, before asking Gimme Back Me Sweet Jamaica. And she related how Stanley had hurt his back on stage in New York, taking on a lady much larger than he. With a quick massage, she said, he was back out on the stage again.

Dugsy Ranks complimented the wives, deejay style, but was urged off the stage with handclaps as he closed. Red Dragon kept a steady deejay pace, the audience rocking through Fresh, Duck and Ku Kum Kum. He closed with a take on when deejays get old, the audience cheering when he said "Vybz Kartel jawbone suppose to cock up."

Ken Boothe was all quality, starting out with Linstead Market for the place and time. He walked on Freedom Street, the long, white scarf around his neck shimmering against his black suit as he twirled and twisted through The Train is Coming, When I Fall in Love and Puppet on a String, among others. And the jacket came off, the scarf clutched and shaken, as he closed with Everything I Own.

Tinga Stewart mixed R&B with his own songs, Aware of Love followed by Just My Imagination, deejayed for Ninja Man on the remake of Cover Me and went back to 1974 with Play De Music. And the irrepressible Astronauts, along with their own Born Jamaican and declaration of needing a woman to 'jam', paid direct tribute to Stanley with Broom Weed Oh and Kaisilo.

O'Neil Famous took the concert back into deejay land, paying "respec', to all de ganja man dem", before the night was capped off with Christopher Martin, for whom the women screamed lustily, and Professor Nuts, whose wit took the house down repeatedly, before the police called a halt at close to 4 a.m. yesterday.

( L - R ) Christopher Martin, Ken Boothe - file photos