IF there were doubts about the popularity of Silver Hawk Sound System in the Tri-state area, the outpouring of support and love at the NY relaunch on Tuesday, January 12, proved the reach, as many executives from the media fraternity, fans and supporters showed up to cheer on the entire Silver Hawk team — selector Richard Reid (Richie Poo), Evert Palmer (road manager), Luciana Maneri (manager) and producer Cleveland ‘Clevie’ Browne who made the trip from Jamaica.

Dynamic emcee Chris Dub Master, who handled the early juggling, welcomed guests to the event and got the musical vibes started with a selection of vintage Steelie & Clevie songs, before handing over to selector Richie Poo who really turned on the heat during his stint at the ‘wheels of steel’. Richie dug deep into the Silver Hawk archives and delivered a fistful of dub plates from the likes of Jimmy Cliff, Bunny Wailer, Beenie Man and Barrington Levy, many of which were stacked away soon after the sound system exited the playing field a few years ago.

VIP guests who brought good tidings included VP Records executive Chris Chin, producer Bobby Channel One; Bobby Clarke, Louie Grant & Mike Williams from Irie Jam Radio; Sharon Gordon and hubby Carlyle McKetty from TSO Production, singer Ed “Knocking On Heaven’s Door” Robinson and former Sagittarius band leader, Derrick Barnett and Mikey Jarrett.

“We would like to acknowledge the support and presence of those who were in attendance at the New York launch, as without them the event who not have made such a special mark for the Silver Hawk team. Steelie must be smiling in heaven,” said event organiser Luciana Maneri.

Maneri announced plans for a media launch in Jamaica in late February, which will form part of the Reggae Month activities for 2010. Plans are also in place for a world tour called. “A Tribute to Steely”, which is scheduled to kick off in March. This will pay homage to the life and legacy of Silver Hawk’s founder, the late Wycliffe ‘Steely’ Johnson who passed away last year.

The tour, which will include dates in the United States, Canada, Japan, UK, Europe, Africa and the Caribbean is a project the current Silver Hawk team is confident will be successful.

“It was to be Steely’s next big project, the return of the Silver Hawk Sound, a necessary move which he believed would change the current monotonous face of dancehall. There is a lot of interest in the project and it is our intention to make Steely’s dream come to full fruition,” Maneri noted.