It's Showtime at the Apollo - Jamaican style! Cultural performance group, Ashe, shared the Jamaican experience with an audience of Caribbean and American government officials and other friends of the Jamaica Tourist Board. (Photos: Jamaica Tourist Board)

One of a handful of truly great entertainment stages, Harlem's world-famous Apollo Theatre in the heart of Manhattan, New York City, has hosted many legends of black music - and has birthed a few itself.

On Thursday last, the legend that is the Apollo met up with the legend that is the 'Jamaica' brand with the staging of "Jamaica Night" - a celebration of the 50th anniversary of the Jamaica Tourist Board (JTB).

Golden Anniversary - Congressman Charles B Rangel, (right) the Democratic Representative from Harlem, presents Prime Minister PJ Patterson an award honouring the Jamaica Tourist Board's 50th Anniversary at Jamaica Night at the Apollo, an evening of Jamaican entertainment at the Apollo theatre in Harlem, New York.

The cultural night, hosted by Prime Minster P J Patterson, featured performances by reggae legend and 2004 Grammy winner, Toots and the Maytals, international recording artiste, Freddie McGregor and the dynamic cultural performance group, Ashe.

The delightful evening of Jamaican entertainment, which at one point saw the prime minister sharing the stage with Freddie McGregor, began with a cocktail reception.

With the visages of jazz queens Billie Holiday, Ella Fitzgerald, Sarah Vaughn and others gazing down from photographs on the wall, the halls of the world's greatest black theatre was a tight fit with a large turnout of special invitees, which included leading players in tourism from North America and the Caribbean region.

Sharing Centrestage - Paul Pennicook, director of tourism (left), Prime Minister Patterson, (centre) and reggae legend Freddie McGregor (right) rock the house.

Like a big family reunion of the Jamaican and Caribbean Diaspora in the US, the meeting, greeting and easy banter over glasses of sparkling champagne was the perfect precursor to the promised entertainment package, with broadcaster Fae Ellington as master of ceremonies.

In her inimitable style, she reminded the audience that for more than 70 years, the Apollo has been the epicentre of cultural expression for the African Diaspora and that Jamaica has been represented in many of the Apollo events. Specifically, in the mid-1960s a young, unknown fronting a group called the Wailing Wailers, graced the stage. The "young man" was of course the Hon Robert Nesta Marley.

Following the singing of the American and Jamaican national anthems, the versatile and energetic Ashe ensemble took to the stage in song and dance. They performed some of Jamaica's most loved songs - I Saw My Land In The Morning, Kingston Town, This Is The Land Of My Birth, and No Woman No Cry.

Out of Many, One People - Jamaican youth greet Prime Minister Patterson as he arrives at Jamaica Night at the Apollo.

Skilfully crossing over to Negro spirituals, the colourful costumed group, dazzling in shades of yellow, purple and green, delivered well, mesmerising the audience. They then served up a rich blend of Jamaican dance forms, from 'brukins' to 'dinki mini' to contemporary dancehall moves, which was well received.

Host of the night's event, Prime Minister Patterson, who, by his own admission, has always "yearned to be on stage at the Apollo", was accorded the honour as he brought welcome and greetings. "Jamaicans don't need any excuse for a good party, and 50 is a great milestone to celebrate," he said in congratulating the JTB.

"What better place than Harlem for you to celebrate this achievement, Jamaicans feel at home here in Harlem and the Apollo is renowned for quality performance," he added.

Mr Patterson in his brief address told his guests that he was honoured to be prime minister of Jamaica during the 50th anniversary of the JTB, which he said had served Jamaica and the Caribbean well in the development of tourism. "We intend to make the Caribbean region the first destination of choice. number one for discerning visitors of the world, and for Jamaica to remain a jewel in its crown," he said.

In recognition of his contribution to tourism in the region, Mr Patterson was given a special award by congressman Charles Rangle, president of the Congressional Black Caucus in America. He praised the prime minister for his leadership, not only in Jamaica, but the entire Caribbean region. "Our congress is your congress, and we love Jamaica," said congressman Rangle.

It was time for the JTB to make history at the Apollo, and the organisation did so by unveiling its new television advertisement for the upcoming winter season. With the tag line "Once you go, you know" the ad highlights snippets of real Jamaican life, a decided move away from the sun, sand and sea appeal of previous years.

Backed by the Millennium Band, Freddie McGregor then commanded the stage. Africa, Here I Come was his first delivery and the audience loved it. Easing through his impressive repertoire, he did If You Wanna Go, To Be Poor Is A Crime, and So Many People Want To See Me Stop Loving You. His next delivery, Big Ship Sailing, had the Apollo singing along, and there were squeals of delight as he belted out yet another hit, the Alton Ellis chestnut, Let Him Try. That, logically, led to a medley of old hits. Before exiting the stage, he presented Patterson with a copy of his new soon-to-be-released album, Comin' Tough.

Reggae, pioneers, Toots and the Maytals, brought the curtains down on 'Jamaica Night' treating the audience to some of their greatest hits, including, It's You, Never Grow Old, Sweet and Dandy, Pomp and Pride, and 54-46 (That's My Number).

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