Anthony Cruz cruises through Canada
It could easily have been called making up for lost time as singer Anthony Cruz cruised through Canada on his first professional visit to that North American country.
“It was as if the people were holding their breaths and waiting for me,” an excited Cruz said, his eyes flashing with glee. “They knew my songs like Half-Way-Tree, but they had never seen me perform live, and it was a big thrill for me to be so appreciated. It was just a joy,” he said of his performances at the Jamaica Day Festivals in Toronto and Ottawa and Jambana in Toronto.
According to the reggae singer, who is the nephew of the late Garnett Silk, the positive energy from his Canadian trip was in no way lessened by the fact that the Jamaica Day Festival in Toronto had to be rescheduled. “I did a lot of radio interviews, signed autographs at the venue and really enjoyed the whole pre-show vibe before it was cancelled due to rain,” he explained.
And what he didn’t get to give his Jamaica Day fans, he unleashed at the Jambana Festival in Downsview Park . Also on the bill were Fab 5, Frankie Paul and Canada-based reggae singer, Steele.
His next gig was at Club Northern Tropics where he played with mostly Canadian artistes like Visionary, Mystics, Princess Anla and Nikki.
In Ottawa, which was another first, Cruz was one of the headliners for the Jamaica Day festival there. He was full of praise for the promoters of the event at the Club Rozz Entertainment Complex , and also for the fans who showed their support. “That show had me, Tinga, Frankie Paul, Visionary and we all gave the people their money’s worth,” he recalled.
He then turned his attention to the French Canadian city of Montreal which was hosting the successful annual, Montreal Reggae Festival. For Cruz, the question that he was repeatedly asked was, “Why has it taken you so long to get here?”
His answer, “Nothing happens before the right time.”
According to Cruz, who’s now busy promoting his latest single Downtown, the people in Canada showed him so much love that he can’t wait to return.
