On Tuesday, Golden Square Freedom Park, The City, was the place to be for an incredible night of Bajan talent as tribute was paid to icon Jackie Opel.
On his birthday, the National Cultural Foundation highlighted the man, who would have been 86, and
his music.
The Jackie Opel Tribute Concert opened with the melodious rendition of Any Day Now by the featured band and other live performances came from Mike Grosvenor (Gimme Music), Wendy Alleyne (Standby Love), Colin Spencer (Marry Me), Desmond Weekes (Drink Milk), Ishiaka (No Good), Bit Bit (Vehicle), Keisha Christian (You Send Me), Romaro Greaves on sax (The Letter), Micky Dee (Bet Your Life I Do), Alix Cage (My Country To Me), Shadia Marshall (Knock On Wood), Jamal Slocombe (Eternal Love), DJ Simmons and Simon Pipe came together to perform their rendition of Snow Cone, Pic O De Crop monarch Adrian Clarke (You Gotta Pay) and Edwin Yearwood (Cry Me A River).
Speeches were also given by Barbados’ Ambassador to CARICOM David Comissiong and Minister in the Prime Minister’s Office with the Responsibility for Culture Senator Dr Shantal Munro-Knight.
Born Dalton Bishop, Jackie was a singer, composer and creator of spouge music. He was born on August 27, 1938, in Chapman Lane, The City, and died on March 9, 1970. The singer took the stage name Jackie Opel in the early 1960s.
He is regarded as Barbados’ greatest ever “pop” singer and vocal music icon. He is only the second Barbadian creative artiste to have a concert venue named after him (the Jackie Opel Amphitheatre) and the first singer on whom such an honour has been bestowed.
The honour was accorded in 1998 in recognition of Jackie’s achievement in creating the Barbadian music beat spouge in 1968-1969.
He was Barbados’ first real musical “star” and traditionally his achievement is highlighted with a concert at the Jackie Opel Amphitheatre, established to help develop the talents of young Barbadians and to keep his name alive.
In 1962, he migrated to Jamaica, lived there for six years and impressed with his vocal talents. While there, he was accorded the coveted title of Male Vocalist Of The Year in 1965 and 1966.
Jackie influenced the rising group of singers including Robert Marley, Jimmy Cliff, Ken Boothe, Alton Ellis, Desmond Dekker, Hopeton Lewis and Derrick Harriott. His voice is heard on one of the early Wailers’ songs and The Wailers sang back-up on his songs.
The singer returned to Barbados in 1968 and launched his new beat that combined rhythms. He recorded a single album The Memorable Jackie Opel (1969).
Spouge had a galvanising effect on Barbadians, who responded rapturously to the sound and his early records such as You Got To Pay and Higher And Higher received mega hits acclaim. (NS/PR)
