Evelyn ‘Champagne’ King ‘Let Loose’ at Ranny Williams Entertainment Centre
IT WAS 11:12 p.m. on Sunday night when diva of the disco era, Evelyn ‘Champagne’ King – clad in full black and full of energy – stepped firmly on to the Ranny Williams stage and kicked it old school style, new school style and everything in between.
Oozing super high energy, the bubbly King, whose single Shame is labelled “the quintessential ‘70s disco song”, filled every crevice with her incredibly big, rich voice as she guided the Mother’s Day show to soaring new heights.
“It’s been a long time since I’ve been in Kingston ... but I know you have a lot of songs you remember. I wanna know ... where’s my old school? Is my old school out there? (Yes!) Is my new school out there. (Yes!) Okay ... those of you who want to dance with me, get on the dance floor,” King invited, and for close to one hour the certified diva dropped it and popped it as she exuded “bare good gal vibes”.
When she drew If You want my Lovin’, it was a singalong, and when Rappers’ Delight entered the chat, the whole centre on its feet.
At 11:44 p.m., the dance party was taken to another level with Love Come Down, the lead single from her 1982 appropriately titled album, Let Loose.
“Thank you for making that song number one ... if I can get down at almost 64 years old you can too,”was the challenge from King, whose fluid movements certainly defied her age, but were totally in keeping with her signature, unbridled performances.
Accompanying King to Jamaica was her other half, the smooth jazz guitarist Freddie Fox, who she met 33 years ago in California and shared that she has no intention of leaving him. The husband-and-wife duo performed the song Happy Feeling in the air, which saw King generously dishing out edginess and sensuousness on the stage which she had flipped into her personal dance floor.
Her closing number was the certified gold hit, Shame, a song which King sang when she was “14 going on 15” and on Sunday night, she still managed to sound just like the original vinyl record.
During her performance, King thanked Gem Myers, the organiser of the concert, who had performed just before her.
Gem was an absolute gem. Dressed in a tantalising beaded gown, the singer who “just opens her mouth and does what God has blessed her to do” was in fantastic form. Thrilling the audience with the best loved songs from her catalogue and holding her notes high and long, the slender Myers was every inch the lady. But at 10:26 p.m. “Goodie” ditched her shoes and signalled that it was time for the playful “almshouse segment”.
“We love the almshouse ... a di Jamaican and di African inna we,” Myers said as she delved into songs like Girlie Girlie, Bam Bam, No, No, No and her mega hit, One Man Woman, showing how to whine and even calling up one of her backing vocalists, Sandy Stewart, to show exactly how it’s done. Acknowledging the excellence of the band on stage, she asked for a round of applause for Fab Five. She also paid tribute to Delroy Wilson by singing a few of his tracks.
George Nooks was there for the ladies and they loved him. He was on a mission and served up both secular and gospel tracks with equal gusto, starting with songs such as Left With a Broken Heart, So Much Love to Give, Tribal War, Bridge Over Troubled Waters, Zion Gate, Stick By Me, Should I, and tickled with Step Aside Now as he gave a ‘shout out’ to Beres Hammond who was in the audience.
Nooks introduced his gospel segment with his blockbuster hit, God is Standing by, followed by Ride Out Your Storm and a medley that had the many feet entire bodies shaking – Real Real, Soon be Done, What You Think About Jesus, We Shall Have a Grand Time, Going Home on the Gospel Train, Closer Than a Brother, Some Day I’ll go Where Jesus is, Fire Fall on me and Send Down the Rain.
Earlier in the evening, a dynamic trio by the name of Iree-Sistars made their début on the Gem with a little help from her Friends showcase, with a performance that left their new-found fans wanting more.
Delano McFarlane, who wears many hats, came prepared with a set that showed off his vocal prowess and delighted fans. Opening act was the talented Kevoy Clarke.
Fab five was the official backing band and Burgerman hit the right notes as emcee.
Sponsors for the event were Cari-Med Group, The Jamaica Pegasus, JCDC, Western Sports, Sparkles and Macville Texaco. Part proceeds were in aid of Children First.