Michael Barnett, principal of Startime, said since Saturday’s finale, a number of people have reached out to him offering assistance to keep the vintage series going.

“This is it for me. I can’t go on promoting good, clean, wholesome Jamaican music and entertainment without the necessary support. For an event like this, which has made a name for itself over the years, it should be a given that we get cash sponsorship to help with the costs associated with the production. I can’t do it alone. It can’t be that I am promoting the music and nobody is supporting me and at the end of the day everybody wants free tickets,” said Barnett.

“A number of people including potential sponsors have reached out to me since Saturday saying that we can’t allow this thing to die and I am willing to talk. I will tell you that one of the persons is Beres Hammond. I told him the only way I will do another Startime here in Jamaica is if he will be on the show. His words to me were: ‘Don’t say another word’. So we will see what happens,” he continued.

Barnett, late last year, announced that the popular event would be discontinued in Jamaica. He cited dwindling sponsorship as the primary factor.

Speaking about Saturday’s show, he was pleased with the level of support, production and performances.

“My first thanks has to go to the Almighty God — Startime’s number one fan. It rained every day last week. There was no rain on Friday and Saturday, and then the torrential rains on Sunday. I am overwhelmed by the support. It sends a strong message that original Jamaican music has its place in our history, and a prominent place at that. For the sponsors who came forward this time, we have to say a big thanks to them, without whom it would not be possible. The only thing missing from the line-up on Saturday was ska. Derrick Morgan, who is considered the king of this music, performed last year, so for diversity sake we decided not to bring him back. I gather that Monty Morris is in Jamaica, but based on the time frame we could not make the arrangements to have him on the show on Saturday. There is a core audience who have been with us for years. It’s a real family of lawyers, doctors and other professionals who come out and support the event, and for many of them, because of the situation in Jamaica, they go anywhere else,” said Barnett.

Marcia Griffiths, Sanchez, Leroy Sibbles, Ernie Smith, Horace Andy, Daddy U-Roy, Boris Gardiner, Cornell Campbell, and Xylophone graced the stage. Hammond and Bob Andy, who were not billed, did cameos as part of Griffiths’ set.

Startime began at the Oceana Hotel in downtown Kingston 30 years ago and saw a plethora of Jamaican and international acts gracing its stage. They include Gregory Isaacs, Cynthia Schloss, John Holt, The Manhattans, Dorothy Moore, Dennis Brown, Hopeton Lewis, Phyllis Dillon, Joseph Hill of Culture, Roy Shirley, Sugar Minott, and Frankie Paul.

— Richard Johnson