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By: Matthew Blake

He’s not an athlete, but he is very fast. He spits lyrics at world record breaking speed…say about 100 words in 9.69 seconds? Such description fits only one man: the veteran, Gospel deejay ‘Papa San’. The Jamaican Gospel legend who has resided overseas for the past four years, returned home to launch his fourth Gospel album in true Jamaican style on September 26^th inside the Fellowship Tabernacle.

The programme got under way 30 minutes behind schedule with Marshy Redz introducing a host of artistes from his high school bombard tour. Among them were Janoih, Timothy, Super Charge, Sons Of The Prophet & Minister Blessed. Each artiste did a song a piece, or ‘piece of a song’; laying a good foundation to break the ice that had set in the cool A.C. run building. Next up was Ryan Berry who ‘buried’ the upbeat vibe of the room, by slowing down the pace with a soulful worship song.

The air condition unit soon proved useless as the venue flooded with a full to capacity audience (with much more on the outside trying to get in). The temperature swiftly went from cool to hot like ‘lava’. There was no let up in heat after that, as Omari’s introduction and rendition of his well known hit got the crowd into a frenzy. With flags waved high, and every patron turned singer, the cry for Help must have literally travelled to heaven itself. Amidst the sound glitches that forever plagued the night, Kerron Ennis was well received, as she declared in song ‘God is by your side’. Minister Carlene Davis was up next, getting the audience into a praise and worship mood, with some traditional, and beautiful praise songs. The hilarious Goddy Goddy was his usual comical self, and had the audience in stitches, as he performed his hits Careful & Chaka Chi Chi.

At approximately 10 p.m, M.C.S Nadine Blair, and Tampa (from Trinidad) decided it was time to introduce the man who had revolutionized Gospel Music just over a decade ago. Before he could take the stage however, it was a ‘full of antics’ Marshall Redwood, who treated the crowd to a hilarious trip down memory lane. He combined with the band to give instrumental/dancing reminders of some of San’s older popular songs (Hail Him Up, Victory, Fly Away, God A God, etc). After about 5 mins, the crowd was overripe with anticipation (not ‘uncleticipation’), and Marshall had no problem paving the way to introduce Jamaica’s most renowned Gospel heavyweight.

Dressed in black and red, with cap on head, the artiste came out punching the air like a boxing champ. He was met with loud roars and screams of approval from an audience that obviously longed to see him. San wasted no time in getting his performance under way with ‘Step Pon D Enemy’; which like most of his songs to come, had to receive the well known trademark ‘Pull Up!’ Getting the crowd in a frenzy, San held nothing back, mixing old songs with new, and all the while getting non-stop favourable response from the audience. ‘Hell Broke Loose’ as he invited dancers on stage for his new hit ‘Church House’. Known as the tambourine song, it had every person, regardless of age or gender, shaking their tambourines for Christ.

As much as Papa San planned to surprise his fans with new songs; he was in for a treat himself, as Nadine Blair paused his performance to reveal his wife ‘Debbie’ who had taken the trip to Jamaica unknown to him. He was surprised, overjoyed, and so ecstatic; he couldn’t help but Smile Again, Scream Again, and Laugh Again. The crowd loved every minute of it. So happy was San to see his wife, he drew for another big hit; as every man, woman, boy, and child did Popstyle and gwaan!

Posing like a lightning Bolt to the world; accompanied with Bolt’s well known pre-race hair taunting tactics, San had every person captivated, as he made it clear that Jesus was his ‘Shining Star….so him naffi put him picture inna no news or star’. He continued ‘Step pon d enemy: boom! We have the authority boom!’. The song took the place by storm! Obviously feeling the heat, San instructed his audience to fan themselves as he did another new hit ‘Let It Burn’.

The Gospel kingpin seemed to have non-stop energy, as he entertained and ministered right through for just under an hour. Sensing his fans were getting a bit tired/restless, he did his final song ‘Higher Heights’; which is in fact the tile of his new 23 track album. Ensuring his work was complete, San called all unsaved patrons to the altar to receive salvation through Christ.

Conclusively, (with the exception of the late start, poor organization, and below par ‘sound quality’), the launch of Papa San’s latest album was ‘off d chain’ .

This article was added 3 years, 3 months ago on Sunday, October 26th, 2008 at 8:57 am and is the Gospel folder. You can skip to the end and leave a response. Pinging is currently not allowed.