Janet Silvera, Senior Gleaner Writer 
Osborne: 'I am so looking forward to coming to Jamaica, not just for the conch but to relive the chemistry that I have always had with the Jamaican audience.' - Contributed
WESTERN BUREAU: When Jeffrey Osborne's singing career commenced in 1969, the American music industry wouldn't even allow him to put his face on the cover of his record. Instead, horses were used.
The artiste, who is renowned for his scintillating performances, is one of the headline acts for Buzz Production's 'To Mom with Love' concert, to be held on the lawns of King's House, St. Andrew, on Mother's Day, Sunday, May 13.
He shares the limelight with Peabo Bryson, as well as the celebrated Benjy Myaz; former lead singer of the group To-Isis, Duane Stephenson, and 2006 Digicel Rising Stars runner-up Nickeisha Barnes.
"I am so looking forwardto coming to Jamaica, not just for the conch but to relive the chemistry that I have always had with the Jamaican audience," Osborne told The Sunday Gleaner in an interview in Atlanta, U.S.A., recently.
Depressed by what is being passed off as music today, he said music lovers are currently being deprived of good music. "I find that the music out there has lost substance. It has made a huge turn; it's no longer musical and there are no bridges, no turns," he said.
Live performances
In truth, music by artistes like Jeffrey Osborne is no longer in heavy rotation as radio stations all over the United States focus on the young people's genre of music, hip hop. However, his live performances have increased tremendously and he spends more than two-thirds of the year on the road in big cities doing what he does best.
"Live is more exciting than anything else. The immediate feedback chemistry from the audience literally gives you goose pimples," Osborne said.
He said he is constantly on the road because the music of the '70s is what people want to hear.
The last time he played to a packed house in Jamaica was in 2000, when he shared the stage with the inimitable James Ingram.
Jeffrey Osborne was born into a musical family in Rhode Island (his father was a noted jazz trumpeter) and was playing professional gigs as a drummer before his 16th birthday. After high school he moved to Los Angeles and joined a self-contained soul/funk group that would ultimately be named Love, Togetherness and Devotion, or L.T.D.
His rich, expressive baritone ultimately moved him to lead vocalist position and during his tenure the group scored multiple pop and soul hits on A&M Records, including the dance classic Back In Love Again, and a string of memorable ballads such as Stranger, Where Did We Go Wrong? and Love Ballad (later remade as a dance tune by George Benson).
Osborne's solo career has brought him five gold and platinum albums, including Stay with Me Tonight and Only Human. He also recorded an album of duets with popular singer James Ingram and scored an international hit with On the Wings of Love in 1982.
Best of all was an Osborne-penned ballad masterpiece, Congratulations, an emotional song of loss that remains one of his greatest tracks.
Although Osborne's touring and recording continue to keep him busy, he also devotes some of his time to charity work.
