Derrick Morgan and Patsy Ricketts. - Carlington Wilmot /Freelance Photographer IT TOOK 35 years for them to get together again. However when they did, Derrick Morgan and Patsy Ricketts were awesome together as they thrilled Mas Camp, New Kingston at 'Stars R Us' on Friday night.
Morgan and Ricketts teamed up for 15 hit-filled minutes as slim and fat, man and woman and baldhead and Rastas danced to their voices.
The duo started off with On My Mind as some persons in Mas Camp cheered them on while others started 'shaking a leg'. Morgan and Ricketts stood side by side for Give Me The Right, turned their backs for Look Before You Leap and came together again for When You Call My Name. Morgan also provided support for Patsy as she went through one of Miriam Makeba's song and later hugged her as they performed another number together.
After that it was all Derrick Morgan. Resting on his cane, the singer went through the ska era with ease. In My Heart made Mas Camp shout as they showed their appreciation, while 'Black Head Chiney' saw more dancing than before. Time Longer Than Rope and a host of other ska tunes rounded off his set.
Prior to Morgan and Ricketts, Carl Dawkins, also had his time on-stage. Dawkins who appeared to be in a 'higher realm', danced, jigged and chatted partially to himself. He stood still for If Loving You Is Wrong and that was his most sedate moment. For the rest of his set he tossed the microphone stand about and spoke of various women as he did other songs such as Satisfy Me and Part Time Lover.
While Ricketts and Morgan stood out as good performers, the night belonged to Ernest Wilson of the Clarendonians. The veteran singer had the audience spell- bound. Opening their unforgettable set with the mild efforts You Won't See Me and Rude Bwoy The Clarendonians led by Wilson, eventually stepped up their performance several notches and from then on the night was never the same.
Consider Me tore the house down as the women screamed for more of Wilson's silky voice. With eyes closed and an intense look on his face, Wilson performed Barry White's Practice What You Preach and the reception was the same as before.
Shooby Dooby Doo I Love You rocked the venue and when it was complete the audience wanted more. Several women in the front could be seen wiping tears from their eyes and there were even some who were making proposals of all sorts via MC Bob Clarke to Wilson. The duo were asked to return and when they did they performed an unrehearsed song.
"We never rehearse deh one here. Yuh still want it?" Wilson asked. Mas Camp replied and Wilson rounded off the duo's outstanding 35-minute set with Let True Love Be.
In the deejay segment, Charlie Chaplin also got the crowd dancing. Aside from pleading for respect for the country's leaders and making it clear that a deejay could still 'mash up a dance' with clean lyrics, the deejay went through most of his hits. In addition, he took the audience to church by doing several negro spirituals and also 'freestyling'.
Other performances came from Phyllis Dillon, General Trees and Little John.
