Anthony B misses JCDC road shows
published: Friday | June 25, 2004

By Teino Evans, Staff Reporter

Anthony B. - File

CONTESTANT NUMBER nine in the Jamaica Cultural Development Commission's (JCDC) Popular Song Contest, Anthony B, has already missed the first two road shows, which kicked off last weekend. According to JCDC public relations representative Nardia McKenzie, if you miss eight shows you're out.

"They have to do at least eight out of a total of 13 road shows, which will cover all the parishes in Jamaica," McKenzie said.

The rules apply to all contestants and the more they miss the more detrimental it may prove to their chances of winning, McKenzie highlighted. "It may affect the votes, so it's in everybody's interest to show up at all the road shows as voting takes place at all these shows and public voting accounts for 70 per cent of the final tally," she said.

When The Gleaner spoke with Anthony B, however, he said he had landed a deal with Universal Records and had to leave the island to get the paperwork going.

According to Anthony B, he did not enter the popular song contest with the intention of winning, but more to endorse it. "Mi not even enter with the winning attitude, but more of di conservative approach. Mi really enter fi encourage other popular entertainers to enter and get the show more popular. In our field (dancehall) there are no shows like these, where a mother, father and children can go together. To know that Anthony B is in the Popular Song Contest will get people excited and want to come out," he said.

Anthony B, whose real name is Keith Blair, entered Tax Man in the 2004 Jamaica Popular Song Competition. It was produced by Kevin Blake.

According to Anthony B, it was really radio personality Jerry D who brought the idea of him entering to Kevin Blake. "I don't have a problem wid dat, because is things like these I always talk about," Anthony B said.

The Popular Song Contest road show aims to showcase the talents of the 10 finalists in the competition and also to allow the public to cast their votes, based on these performances. Votes are taken after each event.

This weekend the JCDC road show will go to Falmouth, Anthony B's hometown, and according to McKenzie the feedback so far is great, as persons are looking forward to seeing their artiste perform. Anthony B says they will not be disappointed and he will definitely try not to miss any more of the shows.

The popular song competition has embarked on a new mission this year. The intention is to target more of the younger generation of singers, who will bring fresh, innovative ideas to the table.

"We are trying to widen the audience appeal and so, this year, we have mainstream songs as opposed to the regular festival songs that persons are traditionally accustomed to," McKenzie said. In keeping with this, at the start of each road show there is a teen talent contest (dance and DJ), where persons get the opportunity to show off their talents and win prizes.