‘It’s a good feeling’

After more than five decades of championing Jamaica’s entertainment sector, founding member of Fab 5 band, Franklyn ‘Frankie’ Campbell, said he is deeply honoured to be recognised by his peers at this stage of his career. Speaking at Friday’s Reggae Gold Awards, where he was presented with the Lifetime Achievement Award for his years of hard work and dedication, Campbell reflected on the significance of the moment.

“I am feeling really honoured to have been selected. You know, it’s the Lifetime Achievement Award, so after 55 years of putting in the work, it’s nice to know that your peers believe you are worthy of commendation,” he said.

Campbell shared that when he first started on this journey, he never once thought of the recognition that would come his way.

“Back in the day when we were all young, I was just looking to make a living; Bob Marley and all of us were just trying to make some money, and check some girls,” Campbell said with a laugh.

“But Bob showed us that this industry and the music was much bigger than we were originally thinking, and that really opened our eyes, and after a while we realised it was a business and should be treated as such. We know now, but we never knew back then. And I certainly was never looking for anything like this award,” he added.

Campbell’s honouring comes on the heels of news of recent health battles. The performer, who was hospitalised in September last year due to what he described as hard work and lack of rest leading to a “shutdown of his system”, said he is doing much better now, noting he is “80 per cent of the way there”.

“For me, there’s still a lot more to be done. I’m still on the road, still working – the Fab 5 continues. When I see people like Mr Ken Boothe, still singing and sounding good after so many years, it gives me a lot of motivation to keep going,” Frankie told The Gleaner.

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Speaking of the Everything I Own singer, Kenneth Boothe, who has captivated audiences around the world with his smooth voice and soul-touching lyrics, was inducted into the Jamaica Music Museum Hall of Fame for his contributions to rocksteady, the forefather of reggae music.

Boothe was handed his official plaque on stage, surrounded by Minister of Culture, Gender, Entertainment and Sport Olivia ‘Babsy’ Grange, fellow reggae icon Marcia Griffiths, and reggae crooner Romain Virgo.

“You know we nuh suh choke up over these things, but we really appreciate it,” the 77-year-old Boothe told The Gleaner. “I’m only one man – I’m only human, and so I really appreciate the people tonight,” he added.

Boothe, during his acceptance speech, spoke little but delivered a powerful rendition of a few of his hit songs like Artibella and The Train is Coming, solidifying just how well-deserved the induction was.

kenrick.morgan@gkeanerjm.com