Yes, indeed! Tommy Cowan is 80 years old.

The veteran impresario celebrated the milestone on April 6 with family and well-wishers at Circle House, the North Miami headquarters of Inner Circle.

Cowan, who managed that band for many years, revelled in the occasion with his wife Carlene Davis, four of his children, two of his grandchildren, nieces, nephews and cousins.

“It was just amazing, I had a wonderful time. It was spontaneous, it was natural, just pure love,” Cowan told Observer Online. “The Inner Circle family, the Lewis brothers, Ian and Roger, Abebe Lewis (Ian’s son), (keyboardist) Touter Harvey, it’s something that is personal.”

Also attending the event were Willie Stewart, former Third World drummer; Oliver Mair, Jamaica’s consul general to Miami; Eddy Edwards, vice mayor of Miramar; broadcaster/Lauderhill commissioner John “John T” Hodgson; and attorney Lloyd Stanbury.

Cowan considers his 42-year marriage and becoming a Christian 30-odd years ago as the high points of his personal life. Producing the One Love Peace Concert in Kingston in 1978, and Bob Marley’s show to mark Zimbabwe’s independence in Harare one year later, are among his biggest professional accomplishments.

Born in St Elizabeth, Cowan is the ninth of 11 children for Pastor Thomas Cowan Senior and his wife. His music career started with The Jamaicans, winners of the 1967 Festival Song Contest with Ba Ba Boom.

His career has covered various areas of the music industry. These include producing Eric Donaldson’s Cherry Oh Baby, which won the 1972 Festival Song Contest; working as a marketing executive with Dynamic Sounds and Tuff Gong International; and managing acts like Inner Circle, Junior Tucker, Israel Vibration and Dennis Brown.

Cowan is also the founder of Talent Corporation and Glory Music.

— Howard Campbell