The Manhattans to make Spanish Town debut

American R&B statesmen The Manhattans will make their St Catherine début when they perform at Perry’s Pure White Birthday and Pre-Mother’s Day party on May 3 at the Spanish Town Examination Depot. Organised by sound system owner and businessman Peter Perry, it promises to be an affordable, world-class event.

“I’m turning 48 years old, and it’s gonna be my first party, so I wanted to celebrate it in fine style and give mothers who traditionally wouldn’t be able to afford this kind of act the opportunity to do so,” Perry told The Gleaner. “We’ll be catering to the entire demography; it’s gonna be a party and not just a dance. We want patrons to come out early in their white ’cause gates open at 6 p.m., and we want to take Spanish Town back to a point where people are dancing together again.”

Lead singer of The Manhattans, Gerald Alston, echoed Perry’s sentiments, voicing the trio’s excitement at performing in Spanish Town, once the capital of Jamaica. The group is expected to deliver a 60-minute set of classics, including Kiss and Say Goodbye and Shining Star.

“It’s going to be a performance of a lifetime ... . We’ll be singing all the hits that Jamaicans have come to know and love,” Alston said. “Also, the fact that we are performing in such a historic and culturally significant town will make our appearance that much more special.”

The Manhattans are no strangers to the island, having performed at various events in Kington and Montego Bay over the years. Perry revealed that it was not ­challenging getting the act on board.

“As soon as we made the telephone call, they were ready and excited,” he said.

The event will unfold in four segments, kicking off with early selections from Perry’s International sound system. The cake-cutting will follow, after which the Grammy-winning Manhattans will perform. The celebration will culminate with patrons dancing to the sounds of Killamanjaro and Bass Odyssey, an experience for a general admission cost of $2,000 and double that price for VIP.

Giving back

A man of Spanish Town soil, Perry is an active member of his community, where he operates a funeral home. He expressed the importance of giving back to his home city, noting that the proceeds from the event will go to the Women’s Centre of Jamaica Foundation.

“I could have gone to Kingston, but I felt the need to bring this level of entertainment to the people of the old capital and putting the spotlight on Spanish Town,” he said. “The thought of giving back to the Women’s Centre in Spanish Town came from the fact that I’m very close to my mother, and she had me when she was young. I see the need to give that level of support to young mother’s, but again, keeping the focus on Spanish Town, which is very culturally important to Jamaica.”

Though his actual birthday is on May 2, Perry looks forward to making the event an annual affair.

“I definitely want to give this kind of treat on an annual basis so Jamaicans can expect the best the next time around as well,” he said. “Starting with The Manhattans is just the beginning of something great that will become greater next year, and as time progresses, it will get better.”