by Andre Jebbinson, Staff Reporter
A member of the audience reacts to the sweet sounds of legends at Stars R Us, held at Mas Camp, New Kingston, on Monday, August 7. - Nathaniel Stewart
The indigenous reggae music that makes Jamaica a beacon came alive on independence night at the Mas Camp, Oxford Road, St. Andrew.
The emancipated and independent feeling was in the air as the 74th staging of Stars R Us paid homage to some reggae greats while others serenaded a lively audience. The most solemn moment was probably when Judi Emanuel spoke of the fight our ancestors had to endure to become a free and liberated people and the constant battle to keep that freedom.
That made kicking off the star-studded show with Sing Our Own Song an easy and sombre task. Her voice still had the same soothing effect that yielded the crowd's attention. After touching hits such as Elvis Presley's Great Pretender, the oldies junkies still wanted more.
Judi had to go but Mr. Festival, Eric Donaldson, was also at the joint. With songs like Cherry Oh Baby and Land of My Birth to his credit, that only meant that things were about to erupt into a wild festival mood.
One significant aspect was that almost all the awardees and performers had been in entertainment for almost four decades. This was significant because it was a night when Jamaica was also celebrating 44 years of independence.
MC Bob Clarke announced Lord Creator was the first award recipient of the night. The Trinidadian made Jamaica his home in 1962, which meant he spent the greater part of his life in Jamaica. And that was all he needed to call himself a true Jamaican.
King of the Dancehall
The real King of the Dancehall, Yellowman, also stood up Monday night. The man who holds the record for the most albums in one year, according to the Guinness Book of World Records, dropped hits such as Yellow Baby and Blueberry Hill.
Ken Boothe has been around for quite a while, but his song Everything I Own remains as timeless as it did when it topped the charts in the United Kingdom. Speaking of timelessness, after Derrick Harriot's introduction, one audience member yelled, "Yuh look like yuh two years old, yuh still look good."
But after rocking and swaying side to side, Derrick Morgan turned it upside down with some good old-time ska. Morgan can be considered as one Jamaica's first ska legends but it was Bunny and Scully who did the first ever recording in Jamaica. Thereafter many others enjoyed the good times brought on by such a feat. It was therefore fitting for the duo to encourage more good times with Let The Good Times Roll.
And what would a night with the likes of Alton Ellis, Frankie Paul, and Gregory Isaacs be without the backing of Lloyd Parkes and We The People band?
Virtually unknown and forgotten, the Roy and Enid duet was grateful for their only award to memory.
The show ended the way it started. After some fans made their own seating arrangements, those who had no seat just danced all night.
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