Pluto Shervington was discussing Mother’s Day performances prior to death
Singer to be honoured by NY promotions team
Published:Tuesday | January 23, 2024 | 12:06 AMAnthony Turner/Gleaner Writer
Veteran reggae singer Pluto Shervington, who died last Friday morning at a hospital in Florida, where he resided, was, up until the time of his passing, in discussions about upcoming performances.
Former 93.5FM, WVIP radio host and party promoter David Warren said he spoke with Shervington just last Wednesday about performing in New York.
“I knew Pluto for many years. I spoke with him two days before he passed away about performing in New York. He was very popular on the circuit here in New York. We spoke about him doing two Mother’s Day events ... one in Westchester and another one in Queens. I was shocked when I spoke with his wife on Friday and she told me he was dead. I was devastated. He’s an artiste who was always very easy to work with” Warren said.
Like many veteran reggae acts from his era, the 73-year-old Shervington performed regularly at private events for affluent Jamaicans in the diaspora. Last August, he thrilled guests at a by-invitation-only summer shindig, hosted by popular New York-based Jamaica-born attorney Merrick Dammar, and his Trinidadian wife, Debbie, at their Dutchess County mansion. Other performers included soca star Crazy, Lord Laro, Ernie Smith, Ansel Meditation, Lovindeer, MC Oliver Samuels, and NY own’s Dance Master.
Warren also helped to orchestrate Pluto’s performance at a special 80th birthday celebration in Port St Lucie, Florida, last November and recalled that the veteran singer ran into a few of his old friends who he had not seen in a long time and he had a grand time.
HONOUR
Conroy Allison, founder of the annual Tri-State Family Funfest (formerly the Merritone Family Funday) in New York, told The Gleaner that his executive team has plans to honour the reggae stalwart posthumously at the next staging in August.
“He performed for us twice at Lake Quassy and twice at Heckscher State Park in Long Island, New York. That is four times in the past 24 years ... .more than any other artiste in the history of the funday. He spoke very highly of our event and how much he enjoyed working in the tri-state area,” Allison shared.
Shervington will be honoured for his contribution to the reggae industry. Past honorees at the Family Funfest include Patricia ‘Miss Pat’ Chin and her family, owners/operators of VP Records; philanthropist Vincent Ho-Sang, CEO of Caribbean Food Delight; radio broadcaster Jeff Barnes; Irwine Clare, founder of Team Jamaica Bickle; and Trevor Blake of Merritone Music fame.
Allison confessed that while Pluto delivered his usually stellar performance, he did not look his usual jovial self when he performed at the event last August.
“He did not look as vibrant as he usually does. He asked for a chair to sit down close to the stage because of some issues with his back. He said it was uncomfortable to stand up. Considering he was not feeling 100%, he did a fantastic job on stage nevertheless,” Allison disclosed.
Pluto, born Leighton Shervington in Kingston, Jamaica was an acclaimed singer, songwriter and producer. He began his recording career in the early 1970s as a member of the showband Tomorrow’s Children. He is renowned for the hit song Ram Goat Liver and his follow-up single, Dat, which peaked at number six spot on the UK Singles Chart. He also scored as a producer, with Roman Stewart’s 1975 song Hooray Festival. He continued to record in the early 1980s after moving to Miami, Florida, and scored again with the UK top 20 hit with Your Honour, a song that was originally recorded in 1975 and reissued in early 1982.