Ken Boothe performing at the April 26-27 Rhythms Of Africa show at Miramar Cultural Center in South Florida. With him is his daughter Karen. (Photo: Howard Levy)
REGGAE royalty Ken Boothe got regal treatment at the Rhythms Of Africa show which took place at Miramar Cultural Center in Miramar, Florida, May 26-27. The 77-year-old singer brought the full house of Jamaicans to their feet on both nights.
It was the 12th staging of the annual event which is organised by drummer Willie Stewart, a former member of the Third World band. He told the Jamaica Observer that it was the best Rhythms Of Africa to date, with outstanding performances from Boothe, Nigerian violinist Demola, students from Somerset Academy Central Miramar, and guest artistes.
“It was amazing; the students, the artistes and musicians outdid themselves. The two shows were totally sold out, with great reviews,” Stewart raved. “The reaction from the audience to Ken was nothing but love, respect, admiration, appreciation and honour. They cheered him on and shouted how they loved him. It was a spiritual moment.”
Boothe, who is blind with Parkinson’s disease, did most of his two sets from a wheelchair. His vocals, however, remain robust and the audience warmed to hits like Silver Words, Lady With The Starlight, When I Fall in Love, The Train is Coming and Everything I Own.
He closed both evenings with rousing renditions of Freedom Street, accompanied onstage by family, fellow artistes and fans.
“Ken’s reaction to all of this was being humble, appreciative and singing from his soul, and saying thank you for the support of his fans over the years,” said Stewart.
He also gave high marks to Demola, who blends reggae and pop influences with the Afrobeats of his homeland. The musician saluted reggae with songs like Marley’s Three Little Birds, The Wailers’ Simmer Down and Murder She Wrote.
There were also performances from American singers Jesse Jones, Ronnie Smith Jr, Ulysses Pinkney and Nicola Yarling, who paid tribute to soul and R&B as well as late producer Quincy Jones with covers of songs by Barbara Acklin, Michael Jackson and Luther Vandross.
Typically, the show’s cultural segment has paid homage to the percussive sounds of Cuba, Haiti, Africa and South America.