IT’S ALWAYS BEING said that Barbadians do not support their own.
This view was once again heard last Sunday night when local and international entertainer William Smokey Burke held a concert at the Plantation Garden Theatre before a disappointing crowd, many of whom were his relatives.
A visibly dejected Burke just prior to the start of his performance thanked everyone who turned up in support of his show but especially his family members.
Whatever people may feel about Smokey Burke there is no denying the fact that for several years he has played a significant role in placing Barbados on the international music scene. The gifted singer/musician has transcended many genres of music in a career that began in the late 1960s.
Burke began his career as a drummer/band leader, before becoming a lead vocalist and songwriter. The multi-talented musician went on to score five Top Ten hits in that era.
One to always reach for the top, he eventually made it when he was invited to tour with the world renowned group The Drifters both as a musician and lead vocalist.
Burke spent just over 20 years living in Toronto, where he won the Canadian national singing contest, Du Maurier Search For Stars before moving back to Barbados.
Last Sunday night, the consummate performer took the small but appreciative audience back down memory lane with many of his own compositions that made him a household name in the 1970s and early 1980s.
Songs such as Come into My Life, Tracks of My Life, Special – which was never recorded – Pan Man Chase with Ziggy Walcott playing the steelpan; his love ballad, Is There Another Love In Your Life, were among his offerings in the first half of the show. He launched the second half with a medley of the songs made popular by The Drifters including Wonderful, This Magic Moment, Count the Tears, Up on the Roof, ending with Come on Over to my Place.
In 1973, Burke’s song Help Me Love made it to the top of the charts here and stayed there for three months. Again in 1974, the same result occurred with Bye Bye Love. His rendition of both of these songs with the backing of the band was even more melodious and sounded even sweeter than his original recording.
The highlight of the evening, however, was his reunion with star female vocalist of that era, Cynthia Layne, and they reminisced about the golden years singing together. The show was brought to a fitting climax with their number one 1970s hit This Love Is Growing Old – another classic of Barbadian music.
There were several local artistes who came out in support of Burke: Blood, The Mighty Gabby, PJ, Natahlee, Bianca Boyce, John King all sang from their repertoire of songs to add to the night’s entertainment with one or two receiving encores.
