Richie Stephens headlines ‘Night of Superb Elegance’ for mothers

Jamaican reggae singer Richie Stephens and his mom had the best day this past Mother’s Day, according to New York-based Jamaican entertainment publicist Anthony Turner.

Turner told Caribbean Life on Tuesday that Stephens flew to New York from Jamaica for a Mother’s Day Dinner & Dance at The Compound in Queens, billed a “Night of Superb Elegance.”

“The singer gave an emotional performance of his 2005 tribute track ‘Pot of Gold’ for his mom, Mama Carmen, who was in attendance, flanked by three of her kids, her sister and hundreds of mothers at the sold-out event,” Turner said.

“There is no doubt that Richie adores his mom, who raised him and his five siblings,” he added. “It was disarming to hear him croon.”

“I know I can’t repay you, but here is a little token,” Turner quoted Stephens as telling his mom. “Mama, you deserve a pot of gold. You taught me how to survive.

“Mama you are my number one girl,” he added. “You are special to me…never had a dad around. You did it all by yourself. Now, I wanna say thanks for a job well done.”

Turner said that, two summers ago, at the heights of the pandemic, the “Live Your Life” singer created history by being the first artist in the reggae genre to record a full-length album with their mother.

He said the 14-track disc, aptly titled “Mother & Son”, “had been a long time coming; over two decades to be exact.”

“I have always had the idea to record an album with my mother,” Stephens told Caribbean Life. “I am not talking about recording an album with a friend. This is my mother, who carried me for nine months, who nurtured me as I never grew up with a father.

“It explains the close bond that exists between us and how excited I feel within myself to know that I accomplished this dream,” he added. “This is a great musical achievement.”

Singer Richie Stephens, backed by the Genna Roots band, engages the crowd at the recent Mother’s Day event at the Compound in Queens. Photo by Anthony Turner

On Mother’s Day, Turner said that Stephens, who has admitted numerous times that he inherited his voice and his passion for music from his mom, delivered “a workhorse performance with the Genna Roots band in tow.”

He said Stephens started with the powerful “Colour of Love” that morphed into the dancehall-tinged “Trying To Get To You” and “Salt of the Earth.”

“Music fans took the decibel level five notches higher when the singer delved into ‘Fight Back’, recorded in 1992 with singer Garnet Silk, and ‘Crushed’, which found favor with the ladies,” Turner said.

He said other favorites included “Reverse The Curse,” the heartfelt “Born As A Winner” and “Weakness For Sweetness”, “which was delivered with passion and precision.”

However, Turner said Stephens’ biggest ovation came with the newly-minted “Against All Odds” that was originally recorded as a social media post to showcase Stephens’ agility as a singer/pianist.

“The video clip, however, went viral; and, based on the overwhelming positive feedback from fans and sound system selectors, Stephens was forced to release the song two weeks ago,” Turner said.

He said Stephens kept the musical flames burning during the “Night of Superb Elegance”, delivering “Valley” and well-executed gospel and Ska medleys before he brought the curtain down with the emotional “Wild Flower”.

“I want to salute the promoters of this Richie Stephens live Mother’s Day event, Mr. Corporate, Killa Boo and Jemehl, The Car Guy,” Stephens said. “I was presented in a professional manner to patrons, and this is one of the reasons for the overwhelming success of the event.

“I want to salute you and say thanks for a wonderful, wonderful event,” he added. “Catch you next year!”