It’s been over 40 years since Wayne Armond co-founded Chalice, and even though the band’s performances have been sporadic in recent years, he gets a thrill whenever they hit the stage.
Chalice are scheduled to perform May 28 on Pluto And Friends, scheduled for the Sport of Kings Theater at Gulfstream Racetrack in Hallandale, South Florida.
“It’s still an exhilarating feeling getting on stage with Chalice because it’s guys you’ve been working with and you know the music part of them. It’s much better than working with a backing band who have to learn the songs, so when you work with Chalice it’s definitely a special feeling,” said Armond.
Armond will play guitar and handle most of the lead vocals in the absence of regular singer Dean Stephens. Desi Jones on drums is the other original making the gig.
Chalice had a hit single in the year they formed. I Still Love You, a ballad written by Armond, was number one in Jamaica for several weeks.
It set the tone for other hits such as Marie, Good To Be There, Dangerous Disturbances and Revival Time. The band has suffered tragedies with the deaths of three original members — keyboardist Michael Wallace, lead singer/rhythm guitarist Trevor Roper and singer/rhythm guitarist Robbie Peart.
Armond has admired the work of Pluto Shervington since his years at Federal Records in Kingston during the 1970s. That label released a series of easy-listening reggae songs which conservative fans saw as a respite from the Rastafarian roots artists of the era.
Shervington, Ernie Smith and Ken Lazarus were the leading lights at Federal Records. Armond names Your Honor as his favorite Pluto Shervington song.
“It’s one of the cleverest songs I’ve ever heard about a man who gets arrested for adultery, and his lament from the court to prison,” he said.
It will be the second staging of Pluto And Friends. The first was held in February, 2020 and celebrated Shervington’s 50th year in the music business. A pioneer of South Florida’s reggae scene, Shervington will also be supported by Smith, Boris Gardiner, The Fabulous Five, J C Lodge and the Code Red Band.
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