Mel Cooke, Freelance Writer
The 'Iceman' Jerry Butler, in performance at the show, held at Morgan's Harbour Hotel car park, Port Royal on Sunday.
JERRY 'THE Iceman' Butler was so cool on Sunday evening that even a microphone glitch at a critical juncture did not get him hot under the collar of his cream jacket.
"Microphone trying to go crazy on The Iceman," Butler said, tapping the uncooperative instrument as he returned it to the stand after doing Thank God For You. "What you do?" he spoke to it even as his black-clad band played low and slow, and the capacity audience which turned out for a cool 'Evening of the Harbour' in the car park of Morgan's Harbour Hotel, Port Royal, cheered.
CLIMAX
He was heading to the end and climax of his hour-long performance before an enthralled, capacity audience at 'Evening on The Harbour', after Robert Sarjant's humour, Gem Myers' effervescence, the class of an extended performance by Bob Andy and the delightful dignity of Marcia Griffiths, all to the music of Lloyd Parkes and We The People band.
Bob Clarke hosted the evening.
"I hope that in the book of your life this song is on one of the pages," Butler said, nailing Your Precious Love like an effortless, vintage Carl Hooper six over long off, even as he adjusted the microphone in the cradle.
The cheers went up and a few people rose half-way out of their chairs.
Butler, who had lived up to his 'Iceman' reputation with unhurried delivery and unhurried but suave movement through the uptempo Only The Strong Survive and He Don't Love You (Like I Love You), as well as the touchingly slow Breaking Up Is So Hard To Do, then reached into the vineyard of fine music and plucked Strawberries, an expulsion of screams showing that the fruit was ripe and palates receptive.
BITTERSWEET ENDING
However, the vintage of Butler's voice, which has been making an Impression since 1958 when he was a member of that group with Curtis Mayfield, showed on a slightly wobbly final 'kiss', with which he left. And even though members of the section of the audience nearest the stage hollered for more and all waited for him to return, as had Griffiths and Myers, like a too small ice cube on a hot summer day that was the end of the Iceman for the night.
Robert Sarjant, was the night's icebreaker, sticking the microphone into his right pocket and holding a gunfighter's pose to whip it out for 54-46 (That's My Number).
Gem Myers hit the stage singing whether times are good or bad, happy or sad, her dress shimmering. Randy Crawfords One Day I'll Fly Away was done original and then reggae style, Myers slowly lifting her right hand and popping out an index finger on the final refrain.
Bob Andy put on an extended display of his quality songs, including Too Experienced, Fire Burning, I've Got To Go Back Home and You Are Still My Honey, going into Billy Joel's for Just The Way You Are.
Marcia Griffiths opened with a Smile and took the audience to Dreamland before declaring I Can Sing. "I don't reach near Tina Turner age, so me no start sing yet," she said. She honoured Brent Dowe with Let's Play On and was the only person to pull members of the audience from seated comfort to dance to No No No.
