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’Twas 8:42 p.m. on Sunday at the Sunken Garden in Hope Botanical Gardens, St Andrew, when Justin ‘Just King’ Walker, one of the three Island Kings, rang out the first note of This Christmas by Chris Brown. The sound signalled not only the start of the inaugural Kings of Christmas benefit concert, but also an intentional nod to the warmth and significance of the season during the recovery period following Hurricane Melissa.
The event formed part of wider relief efforts, in partnership with the Off The Grid Foundation, providing toys for children in the west for Christmas.
From the moment patrons entered the venue, the spirit of giving was present. A well-decorated Christmas tree stood surrounded by gifts, some of which brought by patrons in response to the call for toy donations. These contributions added a thoughtful layer to the initiative, alongside a portion of ticket proceeds that went towards the cause.
Set one of the show followed with feel-good favourites such as The Temptations’ My Girl, Bill Withers’ Lovely Day, and Marcia Griffiths’ I Shall Sing. During a brief vocal interlude of “ ooh, ooh, oohs” well-known to this song, the crowd joined in, signalling their approval of the rendition.
“For the past couple of weeks, I’ve been going down to the parishes of Westmoreland and St Elizabeth,” Island Kings member and Off The Grid Foundation Executive Director Adiel ‘King Diel’ Thomas shared with the crowd. “We could talk about the devastation we’ve seen…but tonight, Island Kings has chosen to highlight the good. When we go down there, we see people helping each other, putting on roofs, cooking a big pot [to share with those around them]…we see community. We see what makes up a beautiful Jamaica,” he said, encouraging everyone to continue showing up and supporting one another during this time of rebuilding. King Diel then led the popular Like A Bridge Over Troubled Water, with Carl ‘Lee Lee King’ Scharschmidt and Just King joining in, backed by the Waves Band.
Attending the concert with her daughter, Kerida Black shared that she has volunteered with the team and felt it was important for her daughter to see the value of helping others.
“I want my daughter to see that this is what we all should be doing, helping people get back on their feet. I’m also really just here to enjoy some nice music and support the cause,” Black said, adding that she had also left a gift under the tree.
Back on stage for Set Two, Diel took his place at the keyboard while his bandmates joined him seated. He asked the audience who their favourite boy band of all time was, and one voice called out, “Island Kings!” The moment set the tone for a nostalgic journey through classics from Boyz II Men, including hits like Water Runs Dry and I’ll Make Love to You. The set also touched on the band’s gospel influences with a stirring rendition of Tramaine Hawkins’ The Potter’s House, drawing attention for its strong vocal delivery. The segment closed with a spirited call-and-response on the folk favourites Day-O (The Banana Boat Song), Sammy Dead and Chi Chi Bud Oh, where Lee Lee King took charge.
Reflecting on the beginning of their journey to now being able to stage a concert for a cause, Lee Lee King told The Gleaner that, “Every time I get to sing and perform alongside them, I’m filled with an overwhelming sense of joy, and adding this cause has made the experience even more meaningful.”
Sharing that sentiment, Just King shared that, “The willingness of the guys to share love and put smiles on children’s faces this season made it very easy to join together. It was heartwarming to also feel and see the support on the night of the event, it shows our people recognised our desires and were willing to come on board.”
Ending the night after a quick set change, Island Kings paid homage to Third World with selections like Committed, Try Jah Love, before moving on to having fellow singers and creatives go on stage to hit that high note of the “ O night divine!” of O Holy Night.
“It was so good to see the support of everyone here tonight. The response has been overwhelming. We have partnered with the Rotary Club of Trafalgar New Heights to provide gifts,” King Diel noted, adding that some of the gifts included dolls, books, dental and surgeon sets, teddy bears, sports gear such as balls and so on.
Following the concert, the Off The Grid Foundation team and volunteers went ahead and wrapped gifts, distributing it to the targeted communities in St Elizabeth and Westmoreland on Tuesday.
English (US) ·