By Toussaint Smith, Staff Reporter 
Eleven-year-old singing sensation, Nadine Sutherland, performing live in front of many patrons at the third Tastee Talent search in 1979. - File
The Gleaner has had its fingers on the pulse of the entertainment scene for decades. Naturally, our picture archives contain many a 1000-word story about those who have given us happy, memorable moments. In our series, 'From the Archives', we pluck a pic and take a peek into the past, speaking to the central figure about the moment and subsequent events. Today, we look at Nadine Sutherland winning the Tastee Talent Contest in 1979. She says remembering her days sometimes bring her tears of joy. Like a rare diamond, true talent can never hide. Songs like Action, Love Potion and the popular Baby Face will forever sing out in the hearts of her fans all over.
Sunday Gleaner: What did it feel like being so young and performing on stage?
Nadine Sutherland: I would say, 'natural', because that was just a beautiful thing. When I was dancing, it was something that I just did from I was born, so I really never I couldn't process fear. I couldn't process any other emotion because it was ... I was too young to develop fear and all a that. It was just easy for me. I won the Tastee Talent contest on that day and the next day I passed my
Common Entrance for St. Andrew's High School for Girls. I was too young to assimilate the wonder of those two days. As an adult, when I reflect on it, I sometimes do cry, just how destiny played itself out at that time in my life.
SG: How do you think the Tastee Talent contest has been instrumental in the development of new talent?
NS: Tastee is an institution. I think it has done a lot. Last year or this year, they celebrated 25 years and ah it ... it is just one of the biggest-biggest thing biggest instrument of launching major acts. I think the Tastee corporation should be given an O.D. by the Jamaican government for what they have done in nurturing new talents. It brings to Jamaica talent like myself, talent like Beenie Man, like Yellowman, like Paul Blake. I hear Vegas, and the list goes on. I heard Diana Rutherford, who came third in Rising Star; she was a Tastee's winner.
Actually, I thought I was the youngest when I won at 11; I think Diana Rutherford won when she was nine. So I mean look at what they have done for Jamaica's talent, yu nuh? They have given them this exposure that a person like me would never ever dream of, yu nuh? My life would be changed and was changed into something better, and I think everybody else can agree with me on that, speak for that.
SG: How do you feel about the impact that female artistes are making on reggae music today?
NS: I think it has improved dramatically. I mean, I have been hearing a lot more females being played on the radio and making a name. I mean, Tanya Stephens' album is just off the hook. It was brilliant, and yu nuh she got a lot of play and she was number one. I'm so proud of her. And I think that I see a lot more stuff happening and a lot more ah ... recognition given to female vocalists, not as a gratuitous aspect of the music, but something to be recognised and to be respected. I think we are getting there, so I'm very thankful and I hope they continue.
SG: What are some of the ways you think female artistes can improve the music?
NS: Well, I really don't know if we can improve. I think everybody should be true to themselves on the journey that they are on. I think you can only do the best of your ability and hone your craft the best. It is not somebody improving the industry; the industry is a collective commodity. You can only improve yourself as an individual and hope that it is noticed and appreciated.
SG: What are you up to now?
NS: (Sigh) Well, what am I up to? I am waiting on the release I mean, I have some singles that will be released for Christmas, which I can't really name them out, but I think my next major project is my album that will be released in the first ah ... first quarter of 2005 by VP Records. It's called Coming Home and I'm really, really excited about it because I think people will really get to know me on a different level.
SG: Do you have any shows coming up?
NS: Oh yeah! But it is on Saturday and the rest of my shows are being held away. I have some shows in the Christmas for the Caribbean and in the States, so I'm looking forward to that.
