By Andrew Clunis,
Freelance Writer
Alton Ellis
THE 'DEAN' Alton Ellis overcame his emotional burden to lead his class of vintage performers in style at Saturday night's Heineken Startime, held at Mas Camp Village, New Kingston.
Decked in black, to mourn the recent death his sister Hortense, he capped the 'Get Ready Rocksteady' show with the passion which has made him one of Jamaica's premier show men in recent decades.
When Ellis was asked to take the final bow, much to the chagrin of his fans, the other performers on the billing were in tow as the rocksteady train rolled.
The Melodians, Ken Boothe, U-Roy, Phyllis Dillon and newcomer Keri, obliged the large patronage with the musical feast they were expecting.
Special tribute was paid to Hortense Ellis, who in her lifetime was a regular feature of the Startime roster. Members of her and Alton's families were brought to the stage to take a bow as the crowd showed commiseration for the departed singer.
Alton also paid tribute, declaring Hortense his favourite relative and reminiscing on the time he first put her on stage.
With the solemnity out of the way, it was Alton's voice that the Mas Camp Village rocked to. The standards were all thrown in. Among them Girl I've Got A Date, Why Birds Follow Spring, Ain't That Loving You, I'm Just A Guy and Willow Tree. And the crowd called for an encore.
Preceding him, the Melodians were the animaniacs of the night. They put life into their performance with little gestures that endeared the audience to them. Brent Dowe dictated the pace and the crowd soaked up their sugary set inclusive of Sweet Sensation, By The Rivers Of Babylon and You'll Never Get Away.
The group is expected to return for the big show on December 9.
Veteran DJ U-Roy sparkled. He does not move much on the stage, but with his dub efforts matched by popular rhythms of big rocksteady hits, he had the crowd in a spin.
It was hit after hit from the man who at one time simultaneously had seven songs in the Jamaican Top 10 chart. U-Roy refused to take an encore, but his was one of the better performances. The DJ had a back-up vocal group, led by the resourceful Ruddy Thomas. Included in his set were Take A Bow, Version Rules The Nation and Wake The Town.
Ken Boothe, dressed in red satin, performed a few songs not common to his set, but his fans still enjoyed his songs. He paid tribute to the departed artistes with Bob Marley's Redemption Song. Then gave a medley of hits, but some of his staples were noticeably absent.
Phyllis Dillon was in awesome form. Once she won the crowd with her vivaciousness, she stayed on a steady course. Win Or Lose and Don't Touch Me Tomato were among the crowd's favourites.
The show was opened by Keri, a young singer who shows tremendous potential. Her use of the stage was commendable and whereas she did a couple of rocksteady covers, her best delivery was when she sang the title track of her forthcoming album, Mr. DJ.
Carl Dawkins gave a cameo performance, further igniting the crowd with his antics. Lloyd Parkes and We the People band provided backing and MC was Don Topping.
