Entertainment News
- April 21, 2021 The passing of prominent journalist, editor, lecturer, communications specialist and former Television Jamaica news anchor Michael Sharpe early Tuesday morning has had an impact on people from every sector, including entertainment. Sharpe, who was... Read More
- March 26, 2021 Reggae and dancehall artiste I-Octane has been sporting a slimmer physique over the past few weeks. Following some ridicule on social media over his weight gain in the past few months, the proclaimed ‘Hot Ras’ has been sharing his road to fitn... Read More
Recent Sport News
- March 1, 2021 The Jamaica Football Federation (JFF) has secured an international friendly with regional powerhouse, the United States, for March 25. The match will be played in Austria. JFF president Michael Ricketts made the announcement on Monday at a virtual ... Read More
- February 26, 2021 Former McGrath High schoolboy player Peter McGregor says that he is determined to prove his worth at the next level, following his long-awaited move to Europe. The 20-year-old has signed a one-year deal with Swedish club Djurgården of the Allsven... Read More
- February 24, 2021 Local athletics stakeholders are breathing a collective sigh of relief, while issuing a word of warning ahead of this weekend’s return of competitive track and field, which arrives after weeks on inactivity and two rejected protocol proposals. T... Read More
Featured Events
-
June 17, 2019
When: JULY 20 2019
Read More
Where: 272 Park Avenue, Orange Bew Jersy -
June 17, 2019
When: SAT JUNE 22 2019
Read More
Where: Quest Lounge, 58 St. Patterson New Jersey -
June 17, 2019
When: JULY 27 2019
Read More
Where: Secret Location, Off Central Avenue East Orange New Jersey -
June 17, 2019
When: SUNDAY JULY 21 2019
Read More
Where: 32 Lindsley Place East Orange, New Jersey -
June 17, 2019
When: SEP 28 2019
Read More
Where: Paddle Wheel, @1 World Flair Marina Flushing Queens, behind Citifiled -
June 17, 2019
When: SUNDAY AUG 11TH 2019
Read More
Where: T.O.A.C 1342 West Chew Ave, Philadelphia PA -
June 17, 2019
When: JULY 12TH-14TH 2019
Read More -
June 17, 2019
When: JULY 4TH 2019
Read More
Where: To BE ANNOUNCED
Inside the Event | 55 years for Manhattans, Jamaica
- 7-7-2017
- Categorized in: Vibes Link FM News
As far as marking anniversaries goes, tomorrow's Startime concert at the National Arena could hardly have been better timed. For while the US group famed for its heart-tugging songs such as Kiss and Say Goodbye, We Never Danced to a Love Song and There's No Me without You, is marking 55 years in music, early next month, Jamaica will celebrate 55 years of independence from Britain.
While he points out the coincidence of both anniversaries, there are other figures which may be more pressing for Startime organiser Michael Barnett. Numerically, the largest of these is the capacity of the National Arena, where The Manhattans, Ken Bothe, Derrick Morgan, Gem Myers and Lloyd Parkes & We The People Band will perform at what Barnett is considering the biggest Startime ever.
The Arena can hold 8,000 persons a far cry from the 100-person capacity of the Oceana Hotel, Kingston venue where Startime started at the Old Spanish Town Bar just over 150 performances ago.
"This is the first time since Startime's first year that it will be held in an indoor venue," Barnett said. "This is a 'Super Startime'. We are calling it the biggest Startime of all."
Between the gates opening at 6 p.m. and the 8:30 p.m. showtime, complimentary chocolates (for the ladies) and ginger wine are part of the experience.
"We are expecting people to come out early," Barnett said.
Arena upgrade
Noting that "the Arena has been upgraded and is in very good condition", Barnett said there will be a food court upstairs. He is also putting in a strong private security presence, complementing the police, and streamlining traffic as part of the arrangements.The Fire Brigade and Office of Disaster Preparedness and Emergency Management (ODPEM) are also part of the safety precautions.
The overseas headliners are booked as the Manhattans, featuring Gerald Alston. Barnett said when he made the arrangements last year, he was in touch with Alston who has been the groups singer for 47 years. Barnett was not sure of the group's status, after the death of the deep voiced Blue Lovett, whose spoken introduction to Kiss and Say Goodbye was always a high point of the group'performances. When the itinerary was returned, it included the other two singers, themselves long-standing Manhattans voices.
"He called me and said call in The Manhattans, featuring Gerald Alston," Barnett said.