Members of the six-member all-male vocal group To-Isis, as well as singer Claudette Miller, in a light-hearted chat with Senator Floyd Morris (right), minister of state in the Ministry of Labour, at Monday's launch of the Back At One concert, at the Jamaica Pegasus Hotel. To-Isis and Miller will be the opening acts for the concert, a Danlejon Promotion production, featuring US R&B artiste Brian McKnight, scheduled for Valentine's Day, Friday, February 14 at Jamaica House. Senator Morris was the guest speaker at the launch. (Photo: Garfield Robinson)

THE Jamaica Society for the Blind (JSB) will be the benefactor of part proceeds from the staging of the Back At One concert on Valentine's Day. The show, which is being promoted by Danlejon, will be held on February 14 at Jamaica House in Kingston.

Its main headliner will be contemporary rhythm and blues singer, Brian McKnight. The local acts confirmed are the vocal group To-Isis and former Ebony lead singer Claudette Miller and her Revue, with the backing band to be Gumption.

Speaking at the press launch of the event on Monday night at the Jamaica Pegasus Hotel, Virginia Woods, the JSB's executive director, said that financing was the greatest problem facing the institution and noted that the proceeds from the staging of the event would come in very handy.

"I am elated and grateful that the promoters of this event have considered us to benefit from the part proceeds from the show," Woods said.

Woods pointed out that the organisation provides a variety of services to the almost 20,000 blind individuals in the island.

"The programmes that we offer are community based. We provide a library service and training skills for our members to compete in the job market," she said.

Senator Floyd Morris, minister of state in the Ministry of Labour, who was guest speaker, congratulated the promoters for their offer of support to the JSB and stressed that no one knows for sure when they will become disabled at any time in their lives. He used himself as an example.

"I am heartened for the opportunity to speak about this. When I was growing up in St Mary, I never knew that I would one day develop glaucoma and become blind," he reflected.

The senator also spoke glowingly about the work being done by the Jamaica Society for the Blind.

"I challenge the other members of the Jamaican society to follow in the footsteps of Danlejon and assist others as well," Morris pleaded.

Danlejon, headed by Leon Tucker, is this year celebrating its 21st anniversary in active show business. The company took a four-year break from the promotional scene, and has regrouped its resources for the Back at One concert.

Over the years, Danlejon has staged not only live performances, but also live boxing matches, featuring names such as Sugar Ray Leonard, Marvellous Marvin Hagler and 'Iron' Mike Tyson.

Among the performers that Danlejon has brought to Jamaica to perform over the years are James Ingram, Jeffrey Osbourne, Randy Crawford, Peabo Bryson and Gladys Knight.

And commenting on his company's milestone, Tucker said, "We are celebrating our 21st anniversary this year in show business [and] we have made a concerted effort that we had to do something special for Valentine's Day in Jamaica."

Ticket prices for the event are VIP $3,500; reserved seating $2,500; and general seating $1,500. Project manager for the event, Lisa O'Gilvie of Caribbean Events Group, stressed that security and parking facilities will be emphatically addressed.

"Security will be A1. We are working with the Police High Command and private security firms on that. Parking will be addressed accordingly. We are looking at organising parking facilities in places that are within close proximity of the venue," said O'Gilvie.

On the technical side, John Swaby has been commissioned to handle lighting, while True Tone will handle the sound. Robert "Chuckles" Stewart will also lend his expertise to the production of the event.

"We have a professional cadre of persons working with on the technical aspects of the show," O'Gilvie boasted.

Sponsors for Back at One include CVM-TV, GM Challenger, Cadbury Chocolate, Mistic Juices, the Jamaica Pegasus, Air Jamaica and Mobile Car Wash. Representatives of HD Hopwood and Air Jamaica both spoke of their company's respective support for the venture.

Emcees for the event will be Francois St Juste and Norma Brown-Bell. The show is scheduled to start at 9:00 pm.

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