4 weeks ago
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New York:
The Official People’s Ball in New York City was created to celebrate Jamaica’s independence. This year the event commemorates Jamaica’s 63rd anniversary with a grand black-tie gala at the elegant Terrace On The Park in Queens on Saturday August 9 at 7 p.m.
The event is always a culturally immersive experience to kiss and embrace elements of our performing arts, but it is also an opportunity to honour luminaries from our communities that have proudly helped to shaped the legacy of our people.
In celebration of excellence, the Jamaica Independence Foundation, Inc. (JIFI), organisers of the gala, will this year posthumously shower with awards the late, great Kingston-born Alphonso Machado Castro, a former member of the legendary Skatalites band.
Castro was affectionately known as the ‘Ska Ambassador’ and ‘Pioneer of Ska Dance’ and his contributions to Jamaica’s cultural legacy continues to inspire generations. He was held in high esteem as one of the greatest Jamaican dancers of all time. In December 2013, Castro was honoured at the 11th Annual Icons Of Soul, in at the Rochdale Village Community Centre in Queens, New York.
At that time, Michael Sterling, co-founder of Icons of Soul said, “ Alphanso Castro is a phenomenal dancer who has done a lot locally and internationally for our Jamaican culture over the years. He made his mark in the ‘60s long before contemporaries like Bogle, Keva, and John Hype came on the scene, however, his contribution was significant enough to merit being honoured by us.”
Castro came to prominence in the 1960s dancing on the popular swinging programme Teenage Dance Party.
His bio states that “his versatility as a showman took him into the live-music arena where he performed regularly as a percussionist and back-up singer with Carlos Malcolm & The Afro-Jamaican Rhythm Band. He toured the Caribbean and North America, sharing the stage with stalwarts like Lascelles Perkins, Derrick Harriott, Boris Gardiner, Winston ‘Mr Fix It’ Francis, Monty Alexander, Ben E. King, the Drifters, and Carl ‘Cannonball’ Bryan”.
Castro’s first visit to New York was as an ambassador for Jamaica when he was asked to dance with the Skatalites at the 1964 World’s Fair in Flushing, Queens.
Among the award that family members will receive in his honour are the President’s Lifetime Achievement Award in Service from the White House. This award was sanctioned and signed last year by former US President Joe Biden, and will be presented at the People’s Ball next Saturday. Castro will also be the recipient of the JIFI Cultural Luminary Award presented by United Nations Ambassador Dr Monica Sanchez.
Named among the other excellence awardees is hitmaker Christopher Martin whose catalogue of chart topping songs have brought untold joy and inspiration to Jamaicans of all ages.
“I’m elated for the recognition . I’m happy that the work is not going unnoticed. I really appreciate the gesture and I’m excited about it,” the Digicel Rising Stars alum told The Gleaner.
James Haynes, president and CEO of the Jah Jerry foundation that provides scholarships for music majors is also one of the evening’s honorees.
Past honorees have included Morgan Heritage, Olympian Veronica Campbell Brown and Clive Blackwood, executive vice president of the Federal Reserve Bank of New York.
The evening’s entertainment will feature a special performance by LeRoy Graham Jr. & Allstar “The True Tribute Band” and augmented by New York’s chief executive party rocker DJ Roy from the Irie Jam family.
“This year, we honour the unyielding spirit of our people, the richness of our culture and the power of community”, event CEO and chair Lexy Brooks proudly declared to The Gleaner. “This gala is a testament of what we can achieve when national pride meets collective and principled purpose”.
Proceeds will support and uplift ongoing efforts to help women in crisis, amateur Jamaican youth athletes competing internationally and underserved communities in Jamaica and the United States. All contributions to the Jamaica Independence Foundation, Inc. are tax deductible to the full extent allowed by state and federal law. Event tickets are available at JIFI New York City
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