IT was love and harmony Saturday evening as family, friends and fans gathered at Redbones Blues Café in Kingston for the 65th birthday party of roots-reggae veteran, Fred Locks.

Several artistes, backed by the Black Starliner Express Band, showered the celebrant with pleasing and inspiring performances.

Goodwill came from spoken-word artiste Fikri Selassie, singjay I Stitch, singers Kazam Davis, Exile the Brave, Wild Life and Amazing Papa G.

Greater intensity was shown by The Seers, Isha Bel, Bongo Herman, Asante Amen and Warrior King.

The Seers are as fresh and harmonious as when they started in the early 1970s. Piloted by Neville Gordon, the trio had the venue grooving to their original songs, Got to Leave This Place, Baptism and Exploiters.

Isha Bel continued to impress. Describing Fred Locks as her musical father, she did African Woman, a rousing delivery of Never Give up the Faith, before closing with Jah Holy Name.

Singer Asante Amen, for years a well-kept secret, is now revealed. He gave a convincing performance that included

The Heathen, Real Revolutionary, Don’t Let Babylon Use You and Only Rastafari. He is ready for the big time.

Veteran percussionist Bongo Herman was in good nick for the second -successive night at the venue. Just as he did on the Busy Bee Acoustic Live show, he stirred the gathering on vocals and instruments with the traditional Rastaman Chant, Ras Michael’s New Name, Alton Ellis’ Rock Steady and Breaking Up and the Dennis Walks original Drifter.

Warrior King not only did a regal cameo, singing his hit songs Virtuous Woman and Never go Where Pagans Go, but serenaded physically challenged Rastafarian ’empress’ Clare Zebulon.

It was a moving moment when he came off stage to do Baby Girl I Want to Give You Love, singing to the wheelchair-bound Clare as she is affectionately known.

Man-of-the-moment Fred Locks — his locks almost touching the ground — closed the evening in fitting fashion.

Reaching out to the audience, he did Baby I Love, Sweet Sensation, Inseparable, True Rastaman, I Got Joy, and his signature Black Starliner.

“I feel overwhelmed. Words cannot express it. I never had a birthday like this before,” said Fred Locks (born Stafford Elliott).

He was honoured by the Empress of Zion Rastafari Women’s Organization for his years of service to the Rastafarian movement and music. Fred Locks received a plaque from his daughter Dr Rukayaa Stewart and Carla McKoy, global president of Empress of Zion.

His wife, Queen Mother Moses, hosted the show.