The 2007 Holders
Season has come and gone, but it will be remembered, as always, for a number of
fine performances by international as well as local artistes.
The Heart & Stroke Foundation of Barbados' annual
fundraising concert, Evening of Music Under the Stars, came as usual at the
start of the Season, on 10th March, and was sponsored for the second consecutive
year by RBC Royal Bank of Canada.
The Evening certainly lived up to its billing, and a large
and appreciative audience was entertained, first by the Barbados Defence Force
Band, led by Lt. Alfred Taylor, followed by the sweet and pulsating rhythms of
world famous Emile Straker and the Merrymen - all in the welcoming setting of
Holders Great House.
The Merrymen was the main attraction, and they did not
disappoint. Well-known standards such as Island in the Sun and Yellowbird, plus
Big Bamboo and Shame and Scandal in the Family had the audience gleefully
singing along.
One of their newer songs, Surfing on the Internet, which was
laced with double entendre based on the components and uses of the computer,
brought laughter from the audience.
Earlier, the BDF
Band got the evening going with a varied selection of favourites that included
The Trident of Bimshiire, the Celine Dion favourite Power of the Dream, as well
as the cricket “anthem” Rally Round the West Indies. Songbird Kareen Clarke
accompanied the BDF Band with a stirring rendition of You Raise Me Up.
During the break auctioneer Roger Chubb professionally
disposed of useful and valuable items, including jewellery and dining vouchers.
One sought-after item was an autographed cricket bat signed by the West Indies
and England teams of the first test at Headingley in 1991.
The auction raised
over $4,000, and altogether the event raised over $19,000; much needed funds
that will go to assist the programmes and projects of the Heart & Stroke
Foundation of Barbados.
A very pleased HSFB Chief Executive Officer, Adrian Randall,
dubbed the Evening “the best of the three held so far.” He thanked the Merrymen
and the BDF Band as well as the many individuals and organizations that
contributed to the success of the auction and the concert. “And we are as ever
grateful to the Holders Festival for their support as they make no charge to us
for use of the facilities, also to A&B Music for their kind sponsorship as they
again donated their services” he said.
The 2007 Holders
Season has come and gone, but it will be remembered, as always, for a number of
fine performances by international as well as local artistes.
Earlier, the BDF
Band got the evening going with a varied selection of favourites that included
The Trident of Bimshiire, the Celine Dion favourite Power of the Dream, as well
as the cricket “anthem” Rally Round the West Indies. Songbird Kareen Clarke
accompanied the BDF Band with a stirring rendition of You Raise Me Up.
The auction raised
over $4,000, and altogether the event raised over $19,000; much needed funds
that will go to assist the programmes and projects of the Heart & Stroke
Foundation of Barbados.
