Not hitch-free but beautiful

It's All About Love and the Family well supported

Marcia Rowe, Gleaner Writer

After splendid performances from Judy Emanuel, Courtney Fadlin, Touch of Elegance, Karen Smith and the show's headline act Jenieve and Robert Bailey, the words pure excellence would have been appropriate to describe one of Valentine's Day's premiere events - It's All About Love and Family.

But alas! That was not to be the case. When Toots Hibbert, one of Jamaica's musical giants came to the stage, after the intermission, pure excellence was smudged.

The expectations of the many families seated on the West King's House Lawn ran high on the Sunday evening.

Wearing jeans-studded pants and shirt, white footwear and a black head band, combined, helped to give him a youthful appearance. Hibbert began his stint with the ideal song Today, Today is a Happy Day, but his repeated trip to the bandstand indicated that all was not well. And during his singing of I've Got Dreams to Remember, the giant lost his stature. A brief lecture to the members of the band on musical notes, followed by a flick of his wrist to the audience was to be the sum total of his performance.

And so The Gleaner went in search of answers. It came from son-in-law Robert Bailey who explained that Hibbert was not feeling well so he was unable to rehearse with the band prior to the show and he has a particular way for the band to play and thus the walking off.

A member of the band had given a similar account of the incident earlier.

But, the real concern was would Christendom's celebrated couple perform well after what must have been a terrible jolt to them?

They did. With the aid of a set and props they wooed each other and the audience with songs such as I Believe in Love, You Make Me Feel Brand New, Truly and She's Royal to close a wonderful evening of fun and excitement.

After their fantastic performance Robert Bailey explained how they were able to pull it off.

"What we realise was that the programme must go on. Although it's Jenieve and I who are involved, the show does not stop with us, it's really bigger than us; because the purpose of what we are doing is to touch the lives of people, once somebody goes there and it makes an impact, to God be the glory. In every concert you are going to have hitches here and there. We are so sorry that this was one of the hitches," he said.

Concern

As expected Hibbert's action was of concern to some members of the audience, Camille Morrison was one of them.

"For me, a first timer to the event, I thought the show was very, very good; obviously the Toots one was a big, big disappointment. Let's hope it does not put a damper on the show for next year. Apart from that I thought the show was very good. The quality of the pieces was very good, from Paulette Bellamy and John Williams [Touch of Elegance] straight down was captivating."

In addition to the musical pieces from Karen Smith and others, the audience was treated to giveaways, a fashion show, a beautiful Jamaicanization of how King Solomon said love is to be celebrated, performed by Denise Simpson; as well as a lesson on the language of love from Kevin Bailey of Family Life Ministry

It's All About Love and Family ended with Jenieve Bailey sending love and prayers to the audience and in a demonstration of love, she also mentioned her father, Toots Hibbert.

Nigel Wilkinson was engaging in his role as MC.

Part proceeds of the show will go to the St Patrick's Foundation, which aims at providing support to the St Monica's Home. Lady Allen is the home's patron.