For those who were wondering about the future of legendary reggae group Third World since the passing of co-founder, Stephen Cat Coore, the message is that the 50-plus years journey continues.
On Saturday, the Reggae Ambassadors were one of the headline acts at the Wickie Wackie Festival in Bull Bay, St Andrew, and longtime fans gave their seal of approval, telling THE STAR that it “sounded like the original Third World”.
“Everybody is singing again … not just the lead vocalists … and the sound is fat. This is impressive. I’m glad I came,” Bridgett Anderson, a former manager of Garnett Silk, told THE STAR.
It was the band’s fourth gig since Coore, an exceptionally talented guitarist and cellist, made his unexpected transition on January 18. But it was their first concert on Jamaican soil.
“Fans have been asking if we are going to continue playing and I think everybody would want us to keep going. The music is a legend … it’s a legacy, and it will never die. I think we have a group of people right now to keep the music going … Tony Ruption, Maurice Gregory, Norris Webb and AJ Brown. The answer is ‘Yes. We are Third World and we will continue to play music’,” said Richie Barr, who joined the group four years ago. He emphasised that “Cat is irreplaceable” but said that continuing the mission is exactly what the co-founder would want them to do.
“We are honouring all the dates that we had confirmed prior to Cat not being around any more. The promoters want us to perform … nobody has cancelled,” Barr stated.
The first show following Cat’s death was on a cruise and it was “very emotional”.
“People were crying on stage and in the audience. But we also felt the need to do it … we also wanted to spread the joy of reggae music and the joy of Third World. It was almost surreal when we went on stage and we looked at the spot where Cat would stand and he wasn’t there … we had Junior Jazz playing and he was good … but you miss the man himself,” Barr said quietly.
And even on Saturday night, Brown, lead singer, had a moment when he got emotional on stage.
“But, this time … this show … it was different. It was almost as if Cat was on stage with us,” Barr added.
Without missing a beat, and with Brown asking “Oonu never expect this?”, Third World thrilled the festival-goers with the songs which have endured throughout the decades including Now That We Found Love, Forbidden Love, (1865) 96 Degrees in the Shade, and Always Around. They invoked the spirit of Johnny Tiger, as Cat Coore was affectionately called, as they wheeled up a big chune and shouted, “If Cat was here him woulda seh ‘Pull up dat [expletive]!” The crowd loved it. The thanksgiving service for Cat Coore takes place on Thursday at The UWI Chapel in St Andrew, and a tribute show is scheduled for Friday at Ranny Williams Entertainment Centre.
The year, Wicke Wackie Festival unfolded between February 12 and 14. Saturday also saw stellar performances from the Abyssinians, JC Lodge, Kumar Bent, Billy Mystic, Etana, Turbulence and Derajah.
