Tinga Stewart, left, the surprise act at Sunday night's Stars R' Us at Mas Camp. Big Yout, right, going through his performance at the stage show - Winston Sill/Freelance Photographer DESPITE A LATE start and intermittent sound problems, the stars of the '70s and '80s performed well at the show dubbed 'Star's R' Us' held at Mas Camp, Oxford Road, New Kingston, on Sunday night.
The vintage show featured top acts from the two decades, including Ken Boothe, Leroy Sibbles, George Nooks, Big Youth, General Trees, Admiral Bailey, Professor Nuts, Brent Dowe, Josey Wales, U-Roy, Johnny Clarke and Trinity.
The stage show, that was scheduled for a 9:00 p.m. start, got underway a full hour and a half later, much to the annoyance of the crowd. Many too tired of the wait started to applaud in attempt to force the start of the show. However, when it did begin the crowd got their money's worth.
The opening act was Brent Dowe, who reeled off tunes from his Melodian days such as By the Rivers Of Babylon with the able assistance of the Lloyd Parkes and We The People Band.
The next performer was a surprise act in the form of Tinga Stewart. Although he did not perform his festival song winners of Play di Music and Nuh Whe Nuh Betta Dan yard, he did his pop hits Take Time to Know Her, Inside My Heart and Cover Me, much to the crowd's delight.
However, Ken Boothe was the best performer of the night. Boothe took to the stage at approximately 2:45 a.m. with fancy footwork, a golden voice and a string of hits - all of which he used to take the audience to a musical high. Starting off his performance with Freedom Street, all who were previously seated rose to their feet. From there he launched into The Train is Coming, Goodbye Baby, Puppet on a String and Everything I Own before exiting the stage.
General Trees, dressed in a canary yellow suit, was the first deejay to take the stage. Songs like Bible and Key, Gone a Negril, Eye Nuh See and Heart Nuh Leap had the crowd eating out of his hands.
The other comedic deejay of the '80s, Professor Nuts, was also at his humorous best with popular hits like Tan So Back and Satan Strong Enuh. Meanwhile, Josey Wales and Admiral Bailey also performed creditably. Bailey, who was quite aware of the fact that many people had been on their feet for well over four hours 'worked fast' and reeled of his old hits like Della Move, God Pickiny, Jump Up and One Scotch endeared him to the crowd.
Josey Wales for his part thrilled with Undercover Lover, Naw lef Yah and Wrong Move.
