Mel Cooke, Freelance Writer
Richie Stephens gives details of 'Take Me Away', set for the Jamaica Pegasus, New Kingston, on Sunday, May 29, during an official launch at the hospitality room of Wray and Nephew, Spanish Town Road, St. Andrew, on Wednesday afternoon. - CARLINGTON WILMOT/FREELANCE PHOTOGRAPHER
WESTERN BUREAU:
NEAR THE end of his wide-ranging and expressive address at the Wray and Nephew Hospitality Room, Spanish Town Road, St. Andrew, on Wednesday afternoon, singer Richie Stephens hits a three-peat of his watchword for the day.
"Quality, quality, quality," he emphasised, wrapping up his address about 'Take Me Away', a production set for the ballroom of the Jamaica Pegasus Hotel, New Kingston, on Sunday, May 29, with cocktails at 7:00 p.m. before the show begins at 8:00 p.m.
Richie Stephens will play the singing host to his friends Ken Boothe, Ernie Smith, Pam Hall, vocal quartet LUST, Brian and Tony Gold, Della Manley, John Williams, Lloyd Parks (as a singer, not bass player) and Heather Cummings for the approximately three-hour show.
The quality will be in not only the performances, but "from stage to sound to lighting to seating to the set-up of the room".
"We are talking about an excellent production, so at the end people will be saying 'this is a show with a difference'," Richie Stephens said.
QUALITY OF PURPOSE
It is also a matter of quality of purpose, as part proceeds will go to the infirmary in Stephens' home town of Savanna-la-Mar, Westmoreland, and Councillor Delford Morgan, Mayor of the parish capital, was on hand for the launch. So was Ms. Marie Solis Ortega, Charge d'Affaires at the Embassy of the Republic of Panama, under whose distinguished patronage 'Take Me Away' will be held.
Andrew Price, communications and promotions manager of Wray and Nephew, was also on hand for the brief function, chaired by Mark Thomas.
There was a touching moment when Stephens spoke of visiting the infirmary about seven years ago with his wife and seeing a woman who he used to visit in the market for oranges. "There is a special place in my heart for the elderly. I decided to stay with them and unofficially adopt them," Stephens said.
There was one quality that is lacking, though, to Stephens' dismay. "I can see where the standard and quality of the music has gone down. It is not the good music and songwriting that gets you to the top of the charts anymore. It hurt me," Stephens said.
LOTS OF TALENT IN JAMAICA
"This is an effort to raise the standard in the music industry. You cannot just sit and wait for a promoter to come, because we know that is not every time there is a different set of people on the poster," Stephens said later in his well-received address. "Is a whole lot of talent in Jamaica waiting to be showcased, but showcased in the right way. As an artiste, when you are on a show that is professionally done it is easy for you to go out and impress," he said.
And that going out and impressing is not only from the stage, but in the audience as well, Stephens saying that people can "look forward to put on yu clothes, go to a place and listen to Jamaican talent".
There were assurances that Take Me Away, named after a Richie Stephens ballad of the same name that is currently doing very well, will not be oversold. Ticket outlets will be Viewers Choice 2000, What's On Café, the Shanti Yoga Centre and Derrick's Music Store.
