“This cannot be the last Startime.” That was the sentiment coming from the stage and audience as the final instalment of the 30-year-old vintage concert series unfolded at Kingston’s Mas Camp on Saturday.

Act after act, and even emcee Tommy Cowan, reiterated that the series had to continue as a means of giving voice to classic Jamaican music.

The series has become synonymous with strong performances and the finale was no different.

For seven hours a string of acts took the stage to create that ambience of a great dance party. From the opening act Xylophone to the closing notes of Sanchez, patrons were rocking in their seats, dancing where they stood, and singing at the top of their lungs to Marcia Griffiths, Leroy Sibbles, Horace Andy, Daddy U-Roy, Boris Gardiner, and Cornell Campbell, all backed by Lloyd Parks and We The People Band.

Xylophone, despite the age disparity compared to the Startime demographic, got the ball rolling with a set that ranged from Minnie Ripperton to Pinchers.

Campbell, who has been recording music since 1959, followed. He warmed the audience with Boxing, Queen of The Minstrels, and Gorgon.

Balladeer Boris Gardiner showed no signs of his senior years. His act was a study in smooth showmanship, with hits including So Nice To Be With You, This Old House, Love’s Been Good To Me and Let’s Keep It That Way. He wrapped a nearly hour-long set with his 1986 international smash hit, I Wanna Wake Up With You.

The tempo continued with Ernie Smith. His clear baritone filled the space as he delivered his popular tracks amid a singalong. Life Is Just For Living, Pitta Patta, One Dream, Tears On My Pillow, Duppy Or Gunman, and I for Jesus were among the favourites on his playlist, and the audience loved every note.

The daddy of deejays, U-Roy brought dancehall to the event. His toasting style went over well with the audience and was complemented by background vocalists Ewan Simpson and his team, who delivered on rocksteady standards such as Queen Majesty, Soul Rebel, Wear You To The Ball, over which U-Roy chanted.

When Gardiner returned to the stage for Smiling Face, the John Holt original, the audience loved every moment.

The next act, perhaps one of the most anticipated on the line-up did not disappoint.

Reggae queen Marcia Griffiths, regal in gold, brought a diverse offering. She did Peaceful Woman, Deep in My Heart, Stepping Outta Babylon, Truly, I Shall Sing, I Want to Be Closer and Fire Burning, then went into personal favourites like Lulu’s To Sir, With Love, Only Conversation by Cilla Black, How Glad I Am by Nancy Wilson, Phyllis Dillon’s Perfidia and the Etta James classic, At Last.

She caused a stir when she invited a few of her friends to the stage, including perennial favourite Beres Hammond. They thrilled the audience with Live On before Hammond exited. Next up was songwriter extraordinaire Bob Andy, on Young, Gifted and Black and Really Together.

Despite his strong catalogue, singer Horace Andy’s set saw a dip in tempo, though he held his own.

The vibe would be restored thanks to Leroy Sibbles, and the lanky singer brought weary ‘Startimers’ to their feet.

The task of bringing the curtains down on not just the night but the series, rested in the capable hands and vocals of crooner Sanchez, and he was clearly up to the task.

He ensured patrons sang and danced their way out of the venue as he dug deep into his catalogue way after 3:00 am to make the finale a memorable one.

— Richard Johnson