Irish and Chin determined to make mark

• Event organisers won't be dictated to by dancehall

Mel Cooke, Gleaner Writer

Garfield 'Chin' Bourne and Gilbert 'Irish' Murchison started out as sound system rivals who never met in the clash that would have settled their musical score in New York, USA. Now, having gone through an extensive sound-clash promotion phase that covered the US, Canada, Antigua and Jamaica, with a partner promotion in the UK, Irish and Chin Entertainment has entered a theatre phase as well as promoting the retro rub-a-dub session Reewind, both in the US.

As the plays, on tour from Jamaica, often include Keith 'Shebada' Ramsay - ironically, a 'borderline' character who was often the butt of barbs slung in the sound-clash arena which Irish and Chin organised - the organisation's theatre involvement has not been without its share of controversy. However, Chin is adamant that his business will not be dictated to by dancehall - whose leading figures' lives often contradict what they preach on stage.

"I refuse to allow people in the dancehall, which is contradicting, and I refuse to allow the people in dancehall, whose lifestyle is contradicting, to dictate what is right and wrong and what I must do in business," Chin said.

And, a year after the multi-country sound-clash series closed with the final 'Death Before Dishonour' at Pier 1, Montego Bay, he is clear that "I no longer want Irish and Chin to be known as a sound-clash company. I want us to be known as an entertainment company". Further, it is not a matter of simply being into organising entertainment events, but doing so at a standard that makes them - and, of course, Irish and Chin - memorable.

"We want to be the entertainment company that has made the mark, numerous marks, on the industry," he said.

After the sound clash series ended with the 'Final Warr' in Montego Bay, St James, last year, they went into artiste management with Mr Vegas. Chin said that all other Irish and Chin projects - including looking after Mighty Crown's affairs - were put on hold, although they still did one-off events. The singjay was hot with 'Tek Whe Yusslef and Hot Wuk, especially outside Jamaica, and Chin described managing him as a "wonderful experience". Although there were the doubters who questioned the ability of sound clash organisers to handle an artiste, Chin said being from the sound clash arena stood him in good stead with radio disc jockeys in various countries.

As they were often sound system selectors also played on radio, they respected Irish and Chin's involvement in the sound clash business, even if they had never been to one of the events.

When that business arrangement ended "abruptly", Irish and Chin were offered a chance to organise a US tour of Bashment Granny. "I knew what was happening with Shebada. I knew he was popular, but dancehall was licking out against him," Chin said. "I said no! Not the same Shebada man a cut dub plate offa!"

Then he came to Jamaica the same year and saw how plays with Shebada were enjoying extremely good patronage. "I said I could not understand. Is this right At or not right?" he said. And Chin concluded "this is foolishness. Entertainment is entertainment."

However, when he got back to the person who had offered him the tour, the dates had been sold out and he could only get one show in Queens. Irish and Chin took it and "that was the first show I sold out before it opened". The 1,500 seats were taken and 100 more paid to stand in the venue.

There was another factor. "What called me to go further - we made money, and there was the challenge - is because for the first time in our career we had a female fan base," he said. For the clashes, he estimated a crowd composition of about 80 per cent men and 20 per cent women. For the play, "there is a line of females - good-looking ones - waiting to get into an Irish and Chin event".

When he asked for more Keith 'Shebada' Ramsay plays there were none, so he took an old production, Like Father and Son, and that sold out. From then, Irish and Chin have done tours with Delcita and Shebada productions.

However, Chin said despite the success "there is no way in hell I could just stick to doing theatre. Not only would my supporters not allow it, we would not allow it because we love dancehall so much". So Reewind was conceptualised, during a period in the US when what was coming out of Jamaica currently was not connecting with the US market. There have been four stagings in two year, Brigadier Jerry, Charlie Chaplin, Beenie Man, Luciano, Shabba Ranks and Admiral Bailey among those who have performed rub a dub style.

Chin points out that the artistes hit the stage at midnight and there is entertainment up until 4 a.m. when the venue closes. In addition, Irish and Chin also staged a successful tsunami relief concert for Japan.

Still, Chin insists that there is more to be done as Irish and Chin goes for the next, higher step.

"I don't think we are the best company. I think we are making strides. If I live long enough, I would like to see if you talk about entertainment from any angle Irish and Chin has to be in it," he said.