Let's Go Dancin' kept 'em dancing!

Carl Gilchrist, Gleaner Writer

The crowd that came out on Christmas night to enjoy  'Let's Go Dancin'' at Ocean's 11 in Ocho Rios couldn't have found a better place to go to end the day.

Gladdy Parker of Wild Bunch Disco fame, now celebrating 45 years in the music business, and the 'Music Maestro' from KOOL 97 FM, Michael Barnett, ensured this was so with oldies selections that kept patrons on the floor all night.

Age-wise, the turnout was mixed, as several young people turned out and were the leaders on the dance floor, especially for the more uptempo songs.

Seals and Engravables donated a $15,000 early-bird cash prize that was drawn at 9 p.m., but most patrons seemed more concerned about the walk down memory lane.

The lower section of the establishment that was reserved for eating and drinking was packed, but so too was the dance floor next to it.

Gladdy made the transition from Christmas to Boxing Day, leading with dancehall selections on the 'Bashment' rhythm but switched to disco to ring in the new day, before moving to the soca beat. Selections such as Soca Train and Nanny Wine kept patrons moving before the music maestro took over and slowed down the pace with selections such as Rather Have Good Times With You and Love Me Please. But it was the Chilites' Homely Girl that brought a roar of approval from the patrons, with them not only dancing but singing every word of the song, and others too, as they enjoyed the music of yesteryear.

Barnett, the last remaining local selector who spins 45 RPM records, as against compact discs, then turned the page to 1980s dancehall with selections from Admiral Bailey, Red Dragon, Ninja Man, Papa San, Bounty and Barrington Levy, among others.

But it was Millie Small's My Boy Lollipop that reignited the dance floor before the groove changed to disco music once more.