Those who never witnessed singer Jackie Opel on stage before savoured the opportunity of seeing a reincarnation of sorts of the musical icon at The Plantation last Sunday.
Entertainers from across all genres were there for the fund-raising concert Smile Jackie – West Indian Man.
Outstanding performances came from Carlyn Leacock, who was celebrating her 63rd birthday, as she serenaded with Love And A Song and Hello There, Baby. The Sandpebbles, who might soon return to the stage, peeled back the years with Another Dream, while Observer gave a classy treatment to Opel’s Welcome You Back Home.
And, yes, Shirley Stuart, whose beautiful voice makes you wish you could do it like him, sang his hit Walk Away From Love.
The unflappable Richard Stoute eased back in time with his spouge versions of Vehicle and Any Day Now, while John King landed an inspirational rendition of Eternal Love, one of Opel’s favourite songs.
The duo of Blood and Mike Grosvenor delivered one of the better versions of Come Here To Drink Milk and Sixth And Seventh Books Of Moses. It was a last-minute arrangement, according to Blood, of the two spouge songs made popular by the Draytons Two.
Philip 7, billed as a entertainer of the future, got everyone excited with a spouge version of his alternative hit Beautiful Surprise, while TC stepped out and paid tribute to the late Cherly Hackett, one of Barbados’ better female voices.
The ultimate showman Wayne Jackman took his theatrics to a different level when he called on a young woman from the audience and to tell her: “You gotta go down on your knees and cry me a river.”
One suspected Jackman knew her.
It was Victor R. Gittens, known as Kinky Star, who stole the show, however.
Yes, Orlando Bishop had his 15 minutes when he brought the audience to their feet with a medley of songs popularized by his brother Opel, but Kinky Star, was a total package.
Delivering neat footwork and dance routines, accompanied by vocal range and energy, Gittens belted out Higher And Higher and Lonely Teardrops, giving them the Opel treatment. He turned the spotlight totally on why the patrons were there: to pay tribute to Opel.
Other artistes showing their support for the cause – which will see concert funds going to the upkeep of Opel’s grave – were Eyan, Desmond Weekes, Tamara Marshall, duo Smokey Burke and Keisha Christian, Colin Spencer, Adrian Clarke (AC), Mike Thompson and Biggie Irie.
Shucks, I almost missed it! The bands were excellent; a little too loud, but good. Emcee Mac Fingall was equally good.
Hats off to the producers Adrian “Boo” Husbands and his Culture Train Posse.
The question now is: will it be “spouge for days and extra days” or was last Sunday just an oldie goldie moment?
