Mel Cooke, Freelance Writer

SLEDGE

When 'Classics in Paradise' takes place at the National Indoor Sports Centre, Arthur Wint Drive, St. Andrew, on Sunday evening, there will not be an unlimited time to enjoy musical paradise with Peaches and Herb, Percy Sledge, Leroy Sibbles, Pat Kelly, The Cables and the Fabulous Five Incorporated.

Carla Stewart-Rebhan, Jamaican liaison for the concert which is being staged by the Florida-based MEI Productions and NRS Productions, said "they hope to finish by midnight". This is after a 7:00 p.m. start.

One of the 'they', Denver Silvera, spoke at the concert's official launch, held last Thursday at 'Under The Mango Tree', South Avenue, St. Andrew.

To this end, band changes are slated for between five and seven minutes and a standard set of back-up singers will be utilised throughout the concert.

Tight show

Stewart-Rebhan said "It is not the kind of show where you have all these fillers. You may have one and two doing one song, but that's it.

"They are putting together a very tight show," she added.

The promoters have had some practice in putting on the package, as Stewart-Rebhan said "They hosted the same event in Florida and it was a success. As Jamaicans, they decided to take it home."

And she says Louisiana mayor, Tom OKon, will be making it to Jamaica for the show "because Percy Sledge is from Louisiana; they try to support him and he (the mayor) and his family are coming to Jamaica for the first time to see him."

Stewart-Rebhan says, "There will also be two large screens to the side of the stage "it is supposed to be a classy event, so even if you are not up close to the stage, you should get the same vibe." John Swaby will do lighting and stage.

And she expects a good audience for an evening of vintage music as "there is a wide audience for that ... For more mature people, it brings back the nostalgic feeling of going to parties".