By Eddie J. Grant, ContributorFROM ALL indications, the 14th Annual Jamaica Day celebration held recently at Keelsdale Park, Eglinton Avenue, westend Toronto, was a tremendous success.
Advertised as a 'Family Day', hundreds of supporters began filing into the park from as early as 2 p.m. These early birds stayed through the day while others, interested mainly in the galaxy of international artistes scheduled to perform, started arriving some five hours later.
The promoters could not have asked for a better turnout, the event was blessed with warm weather and beautiful sunshine and all the advertised artistes gave splendid performances.
It was literally music to the ears of the large gathering, especially those who came out mainly to see the performances of the five headline acts - Pam Hall, Lovindeer, Tinga Stewart, Anthony Malvo, and the dean of them all - the illustrious Freddie McGregor, O.D.
During his two hours on stage, McGregor delivered one of his finest performances seen here for a long time. He was awesome, treating his adoring fans to one hit song after another. They included a combination of old new favourites, such as Loving Pauper, Africa Here I Come, To Be Poor Is A Crime, Don't Hurt My Feelings, Winner, Push Comes To Shove and Let Them Try.
TOP FORM
Lovindeer, too, was in customary top form and gave a crowd-pleasing performance. His 1988 monster hit Wild Gilbert still had fans at Jamaica Day going wild, as they sang along to the classic. Other popular songs from the Lovindeer songbook included One Day Christian and Pocominia Day.
Hall, making her first appearance in Toronto in several years, scored big with Moonlight Lover and Perfidia. Stewart was also entertaining and had his full share of rousing applause. One of the well-known songs he rendered was Play De Music, a 1974 hit.
Play De Music jogged the memory of the cheering audience and evoked crowd participation. Stewart's version of Percy Sledge's Cover Me and How Can You Mend A Broken Heart, made popular by Al Green, were also well received.
Taking part in the international performers' segment of the show was Toronto's own Mr. Cooper, a Gregory Isaacs sound-alike and protégé. His renditions of Isaacs' Love Overdue earned him thunderous applause.
Vivia Betton, Jamaica's Consul-General in Toronto, was among a host of dignitaries who officially declared the event open. Other officials, who were joined for the kick-off by several of the event's sponsors, included Councillor Garnet Manning from the City of Brampton, Archbishop Delores Seivright and Staff Superintendent Dave Marks.
"It is certainly great to be here, and I want to applaud the organisers for staging such a colourful event," Betton said. "We have given reggae music to the world and it is now enjoyed by everyone.
"I also want to welcome those of you who have travelled from out of town, including Jamaica, to be here with us today, I know you will all have a wonderful time."
FORTUNATE
Marks also congratulated the organisers, saying that Toronto is fortunate to be the host to one of the longest-running Jamaican events in the Diaspora. "I am proud to be part of this diverse group that is here today and you can count on my support," the police officer said.
Brief remarks were also made by Councillor Manning, a politician in the City of Brampton, located east of Toronto. "Jamaica produced some of the greatest and most talented people in the world and, standing here today, I am proud to be a Jamaican," Manning told the cheering crowd.
As fans left the park after the incident-free and well-organised event, many beamed with satisfaction and wondered aloud when they would ever see that calibre of entertainers together on one stage again.
