The Preacherman, Derrick Harriott, was in prime form at Tribute To The Greats.

THE Tributes to the Greats awards ceremony and old school dance at Curphey Place, Swallowfield Road, Saturday night, was a rollicking good time for the many fans of the music of yesteryear who turned out for the event.

Minister of Finance, Dr Omar Davies, headed the full house that witnessed King Omar Productions' 2002 salute to a number of deserving musical stalwarts, now in its fifth year.

The Lone Ranger proved why he ruled the roost in the 1970s and 80s.

Backed by the Studio One All Stars Band led by Sparrow Martin on drums with guest appearance by popular hornsman, Tony Greene, embellishing its sound, a slew of musical pioneers gave sterling performances which attest to their distinguished careers and longevity in the business.

With the formalities of the awards presentations out of the way, vintage female singer, Enid Cumberland (of Keith and Enid fame) got the show rolling on a spiritual note, opening with the well-known uptempo gospel number, What Manner of Man is This. Roy Richards, then joined her and that brought the first of the night's musical earth tremors. Turning back the hands of time over 40 years, patrons went wild as Richards' hamonica struck the first note of the ever popular Worried Over You. Doubling up on vocals, Richards also gave a good account of himself singing the part on this "rent-a-tile" oldie recorded by Keith Stewart.

Brent Dowe, even without The Melodians, entertained well. (Photos: Bryan Cummings)

After Cumberland existed the stage, Richards continued to impress with Everybody Got To Be Free and These Arms of Mine, while displaying his legendary harmonica virtuosity on his 1966 instrumental hit tune, South Vietnam.

In their contributions to the night's fare, Merlene Webber and Peter Austin (one half of The Clarendons) with a new partner, worked long and hard for applauses, but was nothing to compare with what was to come.

The sole deejay to hit the stage, Lone Ranger, who right from the word go, demonstrated why he was one of dancehall's top mike specialists in the late 1970s to early 80s, was short and spicy. He warmed the crowd with his trademark hit Love Bump and Barnabas Killing, among others.

The real rocking of the venue started, however, with the recipient of a Pioneer Award, Derrick Harriott.

"...I didn't ask to perform here tonight, but I made it my duty. Because of receiving this award, I think I could never come here and not perform," Harriot told the audience.

The Preacherman, as he is affectionately called, confessed that one of his greatest inspirations, was Bunny and Scully, at the time known as Simms and Robinson. Scully, who has lost his sight, was the percussionist with the Studio One All Stars. Harriot was in good nick as he brought the house down with his evergreen What Can I Do and Solomon.

In a highly entertaining set, Brent Dowe, went over well with the audience. The highly regarded member of The Melodians brought his melodious singing to bear on his delivery of Sweet Sensation, Everybody Bawling and By The Rivers of Babylon.

However, it was Alton Ellis, who, in bringing the curtain down, brought the house down along with it. With his infectious, irresistable string of hits, Ellis, as he has done countless times before, had the gathering at his musical command even though he was not at full blast but just cruising.

In between sailing through You Make Me Feel, Ain't That Loving You, Girl I've Got A Date, Breaking Up, Willow Tree, Can I Change My Mind, and so many more, he paused to give a brief anecdote of prominent Rastafari elder, Mortimo Planno who earlier had also received a Pioneer Award.

As Ellis related the story, it was Planno who, while they were neighbours in Trench Town, inspired one of his many gems, Lord Deliver Us. "This man influenced all the people who talk about Rastafari... This man influenced the mighty Bob Marley....yes, all of us. And tonight I beg you to put your hands together for Mr Mortimo Planno," urged Alton Ellis before answering an encore with I'm Still In Love.

Before the awards ceremony, original "Boss Deejay", King Stitt as special guest selector with the Afrique Happening disco, "niced up the place", so to speak, with some of the hottest selections from the ska era when he was at the control of Coxsone's Downbeat sound system.

Among the awardees were two absentees, Lee "Scratch" Perry and Noel "King Sporty" Williams, from whom a thank you message was read by his daughter.

Other honourees were percussionist, Alvin "Seeco" Patterson; sound system operators, Cyril "Count C The Wizard" Braithwaite and Jeremiah "Count Boysie the Mohawk" McIntosh.

Delroy Wilson's widow, received his posthumous award, while veteran keyboardist, Gladdy Anderson, received on behalf of the late pianist, Aubrey Adams.

If it is to grow and expand, Tribute to the Greats, in terms of production, needs to be taken to another level as there is much room for improvement.

Nevertheless, it, as they say, had a "good vibe" and attracted strong patron support, so much so that the man behind it all, Kingsley "King Omar" Goodison, was satisfied but is still open to suggestions.

"I'm overwhelmed. I've never for the longest while seen so much outpouring of genuine love...and to see the overflowing of joy on the people faces, this has made me almost speechless. This has made my day," the happy promoter said.

How did he compare this year's staging of the event with those of previous years?

"This is the greatest. In terms of crowd support and the live performances. But we want to (back) go to the drawing board, and of course, I'm willing as always in terms of ideas, to look at suggestions in terms of moving forward."

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