THE hundreds of mothers who streamed into the expansive greens of the Lime Golf Academy in New Kingston on Sunday were treated to a sensational performance by American super group The Manhattans.

The R&B quartet — which included original member Blue Lovett and popular front man Gerald Alston — had the mothers and other audience members eating out of their hands as they moved and grooved through their catalogue which spans five decades. They are synonymous for keeping R&B alive despite the onslaught of disco in the 1970s.

The group, complete with its backing band, touched down on stage at near 11 o’clock and for the next hour it was a showcase of hits, complemented by slick choreography and tight harmonies. Never Too Much, Never Find Another Like You, We Never Danced To a Love Song, Devil in the Dark, Forever By Your Side, The Way We Were and their first hit Can I Take Her Home? were among their opening set.

The group, no stranger to Jamaica shores, were treated like long-lost friends by an appreciative Mother’s Day audience.

They continued with more of the smooth ballads they are known for: It Feels So Good to be In Love So Bad, I’m Gonna Miss You, Hurt, There’s No Me Without You, and Don’t Take Your Loving From Me Baby all had the audience singing along.

The Manhattans would use their mega hits Shining Star and Let’s Just Kiss and Say Goodbye to wrap a great performance.

The other headliner on the To Mom With Love bill, Rose Royce, did not manage to illicit the level of appreciated which was meted out to the Manhattans.

Perhaps, it was the fact that the American ’70s group, now down to a trio from nine, performed on tracks for their Jamaican debut.

As a result, despite an impressive repertoire, they were unable to connect with the large audience.

The list of popular tracks included Golden Touch, which was done on backing vocal tracks, Wishing on a Star, Car Wash, Going Down — the track made popular by hip hop act Mary J Blige, OOh Boy I Love You So, Love Don’t Live Here Anymore and I Want to Get Next To You.

There was so level of disbelief when the set ended just as the audience was getting reacquainted with the songs.

Prior to the international acts, the audience were treated to another of the signature performances by cabaret queen Karen Smith. Her Aretha Franklin medley — Natural Woman, Say a Little Prayer, Think and R-E-S-P-E-C-T — was particularly impressive.

Conscious reggae act Nature did well for himself, as did 10-year-old Tahj, son of singjay Nitty Kutchie. The youngster shows great promise as she belted out tracks way beyond his years. She did Same Cooke’s A Change Gonna Come, Billy Paul’s Me And Mrs Jones, The Platters’ Only You and R Kelly’s When A Woman Loves with feeling and emotion.