ORGANISERS of the Jamaica Jazz and Blues Festival have tapped some of reggae music’s finest to present a tribute to late singer John Holt.
The festival is scheduled for the Trelawny Multi-Purpose Stadium from January 29-31. The tribute, however, will be on the opening night.
The line-up includes singers Errol Dunkley, George Nooks, Judy Mowatt, Cornell Campbell, vocal group The Tamlins, deejay Josey Wales and soca singer Oscar B, all backed by Lloyd Parks and We The People Band. Each act will dedicate part of their sets to Holt.
Holt hailed from Greenwich Town, a fishing community in Kingston, with a rich music heritage. He got his career start in Vere Johns Opportunity Hour contest during the 1950s.
He had numerous hits in the rocksteady era with harmony trio, The Paragons (On the Beach, The Tide is High and Danger in Your Eyes), before going on to an even more successful solo career.
As a solo act, he racked up hits such as Stick by Me, A Love I can Feel, Ali Baba and Police in Helicopter. The latter announced Holt as a dancehall performer in 1981.
Holt died on October 2014. He was 69.
The three-day festival will feature headliner Mariah Carey, The Pointer Sisters, Magic!, former lead singer of Chicago Peter Cetera, R&B soul icon Charlie Wilson, North American based Reggae band Soja and Bajan saxophonist Arturo Tappin. Jamaican roots-reggae group Morgan Heritage and reggae singer Richie Stephens complete the slate.
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