Bob Marley Primary and Junior High Students to Perform ‘One Love’ at Michael Bolton Concert

Students of Bob Marley Primary and Junior High School in St. Ann will, on Saturday, May 27, be in the spotlight of a major charity event being headlined by American superstar crooner and songwriter Michael Bolton.

The event, dubbed ‘An Evening with Michael Bolton: For the Children Charity Concert’, to be held at the Couples San Souci Resort in St. Mary, will see the youngsters also sharing the stage with son of the late reggae icon after whom the school is named, Ky-Mani Marley, to perform the seminal hit ‘One Love’.

Event Marketer, Sean “Contractor” Edwards, says that it wasn’t difficult getting Ky-Mani Marley to agree to perform with the students, especially as the institution, previously named Stepney Primary and Junior High School, is his father’s alma mater.

“He is very excited about sharing the stage with the students… and to know that he is performing for a worthy cause… for charity,” Mr. Edwards tells JIS News.

Mr. Edwards adds that “One Love is like a universal anthem that resonates with the entire world”.

“It speaks of peace and unity and was created by arguably the most popular Jamaican ever. It should be a special evening on May 27 at Couples San Souci,” he further stated.

The school’s Principal, Rose Gordon, says the students are excited to perform before what is expected to be a bumper crowd and to be on the same stage with Ky-Mani Marley.

She tells JIS News that she has seen nothing to indicate that they will not be up to the task or will be overwhelmed by the occasion, adding that “they are raring to go”.

“We… at Bob Marley Primary and Junior High… are very excited for them having this type of exposure… having this kind of spotlight at an event of this magnitude,” Principal Gordon notes.

“The fact that they will be performing with Ky-Mani Marley is exciting for them, and their parents will also feel good that the children are performing for a great cause,” Ms. Gordon adds.

She says the fact that Bob Marley attended the school, which is based in Stepney District, near Nine Mile in St. Ann where the late Reggae artiste was born and interred, makes the occasion even more meaningful.

Ms. Gordon says the icing on the cake is the fact that the concert, being staged by the Issa Foundation, is in aid of a health centre for children in Richmond, St. Ann.

“It’s for a very worthy cause which makes it very special. It should be a very special evening and we just can’t wait,” she adds.

Issa Trust Foundation Chairman, Paul Issa, along with President, Diane Pollard, and Mr. Edwards toured the school earlier recently and met with stakeholders to finalise the plans.

Mr. Issa shares that the idea to include the children was Ms. Pollard’s, adding that proceeds from the concert will go towards building the US$400,000 Mary Issa Health Centre, a pediatric and adolescent care facility in St. Ann.

“Our president thought it would be a nice idea, as we are celebrating St Ann. So, we went to Nine Mile and met with the Principal and Guidance Counsellor and asked if they would consider sending 10 of their best singers to come and do a song with Ky-Mani, onstage, at the concert,” he tells JIS News.

“They were excited and happy that the kids will be doing this excursion. I think it’s an exciting thing for the kids to be onstage in front of a big audience. The Principal feels the same way and we are excited that it will happen,” Mr. Issa adds.

The Bob Marley Primary and Junior High School, which was renamed more than 10 years ago, has also been receiving funding from the Marley Foundation.

‘One Love’, which is one of Bob Marley’s biggest songs, is also the name of the Paramount Pictures movie about the reggae legend, filming of which was recently completed in Jamaica.

The song is from his seminal album, ‘Exodus’, which was released in 1977. The internationally acclaimed Time Magazine voted Exodus ‘Best Album of the 20th Century’.

One Love was selected as “Song of the Century’ by the British Broadcasting Corporation (BBC).

An Evening With Michael Bolton: For the Children Charity Concert was officially launched several weeks ago.

In a video message, Mr. Bolton, a two-time Grammy-Award winner, said, “I am so thrilled to be performing for you in Jamaica. It is going to be a wonderful evening, singing my songs for you, live under the stars; I can’t wait.”

Reggae singer, Tarrus Riley, will also perform at the event. Gates open at 5:45 p.m. and showtime is 8:00 p.m.