Teino Evans, Staff Reporter
Maria Myrie, lead singer for the Bare Essentials Band performs for fathers at Colour Him Father, held at the Hilton Kingston Hotel on Sunday, June 19. - CARLINGTON WILMOT/FREELANCE PHOTOGRAPHER
COLOUR HIM Father painted the perfect picture of and for fathers.
The show, which was held in the ballroom at the Hilton Kingston Hotel on Father's Day, last Sunday, featured an exciting line-up of artistes, including Karen Smith, Judy Emmanuel, Maria Myrie, Tami Chin, Dr. Carolyn Cooper and Keisha Patterson, who paid tribute to fathers on their special day.
Complimentary cocktails provided the perfect prelude to the show which started at 7:00 p.m.
Even so, fathers may not have expected the fun and excitement that would come throughout the evening.
Dr. Carolyn Cooper got it started with a rousing tribute to the fathers, even the ones who were absent.
"Mi come fi big up all fathers, stepfathers, even the ones wearing 'jackets'," she said, eliciting laughter from the crowd. "To tell you di truth though, I don't mind hear di term 'baby mother', but mi caan tek fi hear when dem seh 'baby father' it sound like the fathers are still babies and not yet ready for fatherhood. Dis evening, mek wi celebrate all a wi Jamaican fathers, whether dem live in or pass tru," Dr. Cooper said. The patrons could hardly contain their laughter.
Tami Chin added a little dancehall flavour to the evening, performing songs like Hyperventilating, Still Afraid and her new single, Hot, which had the Hilton ballroom rocking.
Before Chin left the stage, however, she invited a few couples to come to the front and waltz as she performed one of her closing pieces.
After the break, the talented Tivoli Dancers took the stage, engaging the patrons for the second time that night with their energetic and flashy dance moves and colourful costumes.
Keisha Patterson then followed with songs like Wind Beneath My Wings, and a Jazzy remix to Unforgettable. Patterson thrilled the crowd with her powerful rendition of At Last to close.
Continuing in the moment, a few fathers in the audience were invited on stage by MC Totlyn Oliver to 'shake a leg' to the background music being provided by Harold Davis and Friends.
The fathers who took up the offer definitely enjoyed themselves on stage, as they did variations of the Jamaican Ska. The best dancer of the lot won a gift basket.
SOULFUL SINGING
After the excitement on stage, it was time for some more soulful singing, as lead singer for Bare Essentials, Maria Myrie took the stage.
Myrie flirtatiously had many on the edge of their seats, as she performed songs like Hey Mr. Melody and Turn Your Lights Down Low. As if that wasn't enough, Myrie sought to get up close and personal with the dads in the house, as she sang Love Was Made For Me And You, while walking in the passageway, handing out Hershey Bars from her gift bag and an occasional kiss on the cheeks.
Yes Jesus Loves You, Myrie's last song, a prayer for fathers and Jamaica in general, was a fitting end to her set. She was joined by members of the audience in singing the song.
Many patrons who seemed satisfied that they had enjoyed their money's worth had started to leave. But the lovely-sounding Judy Emmanuel and a veteran in her own right, Karen Smith added a welcome bonus to the show.
Emmanuel, who differed from the norm of the evening in how she entered the stage, proceeded from the rear of the ballroom, singing, Because You Loved Me.
After Emmanuel gave a powerful, but sweet-sounding performance of songs like Unconditional Love and Bridge Over Troubled Waters, she left the stage to a standing ovation.
Karen Smith, the final act for the evening, came and the standard kept rising. Smith closed the show in fine style, as she playfully and professionally delivered excellent pieces in songs like My Love, and Fever.
The night was a perfectly painted tribute to the deserving fathers.
