The Original Startime, Jamaica’s premier vintage concert that was launched 27 years ago with the mission to “keep Jamaica’s musical heritage alive” heads for Juici Patties The Verandah in Clarendon Park on Saturday July 2, after an awesome and still-talked about return to the entertainment landscape at Kingston’s Mas Camp in January 2016. Startime is heading to Clarendon with another blockbuster lineup of leading ska, rock steady and reggae foundation superstars that are definitely worth going the miles to see..
Startime has established itself as one of Jamaica’s most highly- rated entertainment events, it’s highly-anticipated return on Saturday, July 2 in Clarendon, is courtesy of Juici Patties and The Verandah, in association with Kool 97FM, The Jamaica Observer, Sparkles Productions, CPTC, TVJ, Singer, Seals & Engravables, Devon Bourne’s Rubis HWT, On Stage TV, Irie FM, Christar Villas Hotel, Kingston Hireage, Happy Ice, Midtown Liquor Supplies Center, A & E Ambulance Service, Interlinc Communications who host the startime.com.jm website, Securipro and Knutsford Express who will be providing return shuttle service from all their locations across Jamaica.
The exciting Startime line up for The Verandah July 2 sees the return of all the January Mas Camp stars, featuring Reggae Queen Marcia Griffiths, Leroy “Heptones” Sibbles, Errol Dunkley, Horace “Sleepy” Andy, Johnny “Hit Machine” Clarke, The Mighty Diamonds, 70s ace DJ Dillinger and 80s superstar Frankie Paul all backed by Lloyd Parks & We The People …. who combined to present one of the most phenomenal Startime concerts in many years.
As if this stellar line up was’nt more than enough … the promotions team led by Michael Barnett and Charles Simms have added ‘The Clarendon Connection’ of reggae superstar Freddie McGregor, King of Ska Derrick Morgan and The Clarendonians (comprising the duo Peter Austin and Ernest Wilson) .…. their way of paying tribute to the parish where the show will be held, and where ‘The Clarendon Connection’ were all born. Clarendon has a very rich musical history, as it is also the birthplace of stars like Millie Small, Toots Hibbert, Barrington Levy, Coco Tea among others.
It will be pandemonium time at The Verandah July 2, when Freddie McGregor takes the stage on home soil, returning to his roots that began over 53 years ago when Freddie first went to Kingston’s legendary Studio One owned by Jamaica’s own
‘Berry Gordy’ Clement Seymour “Sir Coxsone” Dodd and began his celebrated recording career.
Freddie is excited about his upcoming Startime performance, and looking forward to return to his roots – especially so close to the release of his latest album True to my Roots – where he left when he was only seven years old, known as ‘Little Freddie’. It is also very special and historic that Freddie and Ernest Wilson of the Clarendonians will perform on the same stage come July 2, in their hometown; as it was 9 year old Ernest at the time, who took 7 year old Freddie to Studio One and introduced him to Mr. Dodd … what a story !!! Freddie and Ernest went on to record a barrage of songs as the duo Fitsy and Freddie Including Freddie’s first recording Why Did You Do It, plus Do Good, the gospel-styled Everlasting Love, Just Once In My Life, The Truth Hurts and the thumping cover of the Hamlins’ Soul and Inspiration among others.
Freddie has had an ultra successful career since then, and has long been one of the outstanding names in reggae beginning from the late 1970s with the release of the Studio One album Bobby Bobylon. The hits flowed at Studio One including How Can You Mend A Broken Heart, Starting All Over Again, I Don’t Know, Little Girl, Whenever I’m Ready, Going To A Ball, Rastaman Camp and Africa Here I Come.
His popularity has soared tremendously over the years with the release of other massive hits like “Big Ship, Loving Pauper, Prophecy, Don’t Hurt My Feelings, Push Comes to Shove,
Mr. Officer, Raggamuffin (with Dennis Brown), Just Don’t Want To Be Lonely (a top ten hit in the UK), That Girl (Groovy Situation), the beautiful ballad And So I Will Wait For You, Guantanamera, Stop Loving You, To Be Poor Is A Crime, Let Them Try, I See It In You and I Was Born a Winner; as well as several hit albums – Jamaican Classics 1, 2 and 3 featuring cover versions of many early reggae standards.
Freddie has also toured extensively for many years, and received a coveted grammy nomination for the album Anything For You. He established the very successful Big Ship Music Company in the 80s, and has produced many of Jamaica’s leading contemporary artists. Startime massive …. Get ready for Freddie at The Verandah on Saturday July 2 !!
VIP tickets are $7,000 (inclusive of all drinks-local bar and a meal); general admission ticket is $2,000 presale and $2,500 at the gate; and are now available at all 62 Juici Patties Restaurants across Jamaica; in Mandeville at Manchester Golf Club; in Kingston at Mary Brown’s Corner Texaco Grab ‘N’ Go (906-1115); Derrick Harriott Twin Gates Plaza (926-8027); Devon Bourne’s Rubis Station HWT (968-2247); and in Portmore at Portmore Mall Pharmacy (988-7639).
Website: startime.com.jm hosted by Interlinc Communications. Facebook : The Original Startime Vintage Concert
