Father Witty’s ‘feisty wife’ keeps him youthful at 70

Within the dancehall community, Whitfield Henry is renowned, however, most people are familiar with the moniker, ‘Father Witty’. Having dedicated more than two decades to the dancehall scene, and twice as many in the entertainment industry, the veteran party promoter known for the iconic dancehall session, Uptown Mondays, truly deserves recognition.

It’s celebration time on Monday, as the energetic and youthful Henry marks reaching the venerable age of 70. He shares his secrets behind his success and youthfulness, his perspectives on the new era of dancehall music and his birthday wishes.

“Every day is a good day so, we must give thanks and praise for every day we are above the earth and acknowledge God for our survival. As for the secret to my youthful appearance …well, I have a feisty wife,” Henry remarked, followed by an infectious laugh. “She motivates me, keeps me young along with the support of family and friends, and the dancehall community.”

A former producer, record store and music lounge owner, Henry has laid a rock-solid foundation in the dancehall starting with Soul Tone sound system in the early 1970s. He achieved success on the charts in the 1980s with Shelly Thunder’s Kuff; Teach The Youth by Barrington Levy; Don’t Beat The Amber by Ninjaman; and ‘rude bwoy’ anthems like Punany Full We Head by Shabba Ranks; and Bad Boy Wadat by Night Rider.

He speaks passionately about the decade, recalling that his late father Ludlow Henry was not a fan of the music of his time.

“I am from the ‘70s, and back then, it was the best kind of music. Interestingly, my father never appreciated it. He preferred the music of earlier years. Older folks often reminisce about the music from their era, but I always embraced the present. Everybody different; persons of my age group may not appreciate the dancehall music being produced now, but I love it,” Henry shared.

He added, “The current era of dancehall has opened up opportunities for talents to achieve what many of them only dreamed of. We heard stories of artistes recording entire albums just to afford a single suit of clothes. Today, the recording artistes are able to do more because the business has improved and they are pushing themselves to create the next hit, aiming to buy their mother a house or get a new car – it is a lifeline for some of these youths.”

Henry, however, has no intention of returning to the studio to produce new acts. His focus is on his impending retirement and handing over the business to his son, Troy. Henry’s long-running Uptown Mondays, which he launched in the same location he once operated the record store and transformed into a brand, will celebrate its 23rd anniversary on Heroes Day later this year. He shared that it took a while for the dance to “jump off”, and expressed gratitue for “good support from sound systems, artistes and the whole dancehall fraternity over the years”.

“It’s about creating a legacy and I am happy to say I have one. I am still in a space where I can contribute to dancehall,” he said. “The principle that has served as the cornerstone for my approach to dancehall is to enjoy the present and show people they can too. Without now, there is no future. This is one reason I never turn anyone away from Uptown Mondays – whether it is an artiste who wants a platform to perform or a patron who may not have the full admission fee ,” Henry revealed.

“But, the older you get, you have to step back. You know the older you get, the slower you get. Actually I start handing things over to Troy already. My only wishes are for good health and strength and to know that my family is in a better position,” he continued.

Pavel Smith, marketing manager for Magnum Tonic Wine, one of the brands which has maintained a strong relationship with Henry and Uptown Mondays for more than a decade, hailed Henry’s resilience.

“Without a doubt Father Witty’s contributions to dancehall culture will be remembered for years to come and certainly deserve celebration. It is an honour to celebrate another year with the respected industry professional and we look forward to many more years. His commitment to promoting talent, fostering community, and enriching the cultural landscape through the platform his event has built, are truly remarkable,” Smith stated.

In celebration of Henry’s 70th birthday, tonight’s Magnum Uptown Mondays will feature special live performances by Luciano and Fantan Mojah and the admission is inclusive of food.

entertainment@gleanerjm.com