Saluting a Legend
Published:Tuesday | February 10, 2015 | 9:24 AM
WESTERN BUREAU:
The pan-chicken man with his hard dough bread just outside the entrance to the VIP section of the Digicel Redemption Live concert on the waterfront, downtown Kingston, did not have hands to serve patrons on Saturday, February 7.
Neither did the woman selling sodas, Red Stripe beer and phone cards. This was an invasion of the highest order, as thousands converged on the renowned commercial district, celebrating the 70th birthday of reggae icon Bob Marley.
Not only were they hungry for the cream-of-the-crop reggae music, but they seemed to be longing for authentic Jamaican food and even a sniff of the good 'sensimilla'.
The mouth-watering jerked chickenwas on par with the electrifying performances served up onstage by reggae's sweet-sounding Cocoa Tea, the smooth Tarrus Riley, an agile Capleton, Tessanne Chin, Big Ship's Freddie McGregor, and I-Octane.
Their top-notch performances were complemented by siblings Ky-mani, Julian and Damian 'Junior Gong' Marley, who brought incredibly satiating showmanship to an already-stellar event.
Two of the three members of the I-Threes - their royal highnesses Marcia Griffiths and Judy Mowatt - were the icing on the cake.
Digicel delivered on the promise that this would be a celebration of the music and the life of the legend.
Those who stood transfixed by the action onstage at the Kingston waterfront will have fond memories for years to come.