Keith Lyn and Friends give rollicking performance

Marcia Rowe, Gleaner Writer

When Keith Lyn, known for his original song Ska, Ska, joins force with the likes of Boris Gardiner, Ken Boothe and the Fab 5 band there is enough to get people singing and dancing.

This was the case on Sunday at the Catholic School Initiative (CSI) team-organised event titled Keith Lyn and Friends, held at the Stella Maris Church Hall on Shorthood Road in St Andrew.

The friends of Lyn were small in number but churned out some great music, producing a watershed of nostalgia.

Not looking but sounding every bit of their 40 years in existence, Fab 5 got the show going with songs from their Christmas album.

With such songs as Christmas in Jamaica and Joyful Christmas in the Sun, they began the evening's wonderful servings of music.

Next was Kerry Ann Chin, a member of Stella Maris Church. She entertained the growing audience with You can Reach Me by Telephone, followed by Diana Ross' Do You Know and ended her act with Michael Jackson's Heal the World.

Soulful ballad

But it was the duo known as Bagadito who started the fire. Dressed in full black, both men began their stint with Those Were the Days then moved smoothly into Wide A Wake in A Dream, and went solo with Crazy for You before rejoining force to conclude with Cause I love You.

Charmaine Limonius, with her signature guitar strapped across her chest, was entrusted with the task of beginning the second half of the concert. And she went to the heart with Jimmy Cliff's soulful ballad Sitting in Limbo.

To Sir With Love, another vintage classic was well delivered but it was her rendition of Lean On Me that had the audience clapping along to the music.

Boris Gardiner came on the heels of Limonius. Wearing full white that contrasted with the black and blue panelled backdrop, he reeled off hits after hits.

After beginning with Someone Loves You Honey, he proceeded to pull the audience further into the past with This Old House and, much further back to the '60s and '50s, with Born Free and way back to the '40s with Nat King Cole's Unforgettable.

Gardiner finally ended his performance with a medley of more oldies.

Keith Lyn, team leader of CSI, was next. His physical appearance belied his powerful voice. He kick-started his campaign down memory lane with Julie On My Mind, then Empty Chair, Portrait of My Love and ended with the ever popular Ska, Ska, an instructive dance.

"Written to introduce Jamaican music to the USA," Lyn told The Gleaner at the end of the show.

Standing ovation

"Education is the key to any nation's success, I am not as educated but I try to do my best for my children. Kids are our future and the Lord's heritage," so said Ken Boothe before he launched into a performance of Everything I Own that required and received a standing ovation.

Boothe, who came directly from Mandeville to the concert, also performed Walk Down Freedom Street and a medley of more of his hits, such as The Train is Coming and Puppet on a String to his trademark dance steps and turns.

And Keith Lyn and his friends ended what could be truly described as a pleasant walk down memory lane with a Christmas song.

Part proceeds from the concert will go towards helping the Holy Trinity High School.

"They really need instruments and an adjoining bathroom for a building donated by Food For The Poor," said Lyn.

Lyn was very popular on the Jamaican music scene. Apart from singing on the choir at the Stella Maris Church, he also leads the choir and congregation in singing as the cantor. He continues to perform on tours, but as a soloist. He also mentors the students at the Holy Trinity High School.