Reggae Sumfest director Johnny Gourzong (right) makes a presentation to Tito Jackson on Saturday night. In the background is Tourism Minister Edmund Bartlett. - photo by Adrian Frater
WESTERN BUREAU:
Two days after Tito Jackson accepted the Lifetime Achievement Award from Reggae Sumfest on behalf of his legendary brother, Michael, he allowed The Gleaner access to his presidential suite at the Iberostar Grande Hotel in Montego Bay.
"I felt love, pure love. The type of love Bob Marley spoke about in his song One Love, while accepting the award on behalf of my family," he said, quickly adding, "I felt the spirit of Michael as well and it was a great feeling."
In between sipping a cup of Blue Mountain coffee, taking a puff of his cigarette and answering telephone calls, at least one from brother, Jermaine, Tito, one of the original members of the Jackson Five, looked much more rested and younger than the man who appeared onstage at the reggae festival last Saturday night.
"We were just coming in from Spain, where I had worked three shows in Madrid, Alicante and Maliga, but the music there was different," he pointed out.
Tito said that attending the reggae festival provided him a great opportunity - meeting one of the sons of the King of Reggae, Bob Marley.
"I met Damian Marley backstage. I really like him. He is so humble. I wish I could have spent two hours with him," he said.
The last time Tito was in Jamaica was two years ago and it was a doctor's visit (short stop) while on the Tom Joyner cruise. Last Saturday night was the first time he performed in Jamaica since 1975, when the Jackson Five opened for Bob Marley at the National Stadium.
Having lived in the shadow of his iconic sibling for so many years, Tito has watched his other brothers and sisters branch out and record solo albums, but he never did. That may be changing now for the 55-year-old.
"I have never done anything solo as it relates to a record and I feel that if I am to be a full-fledged artiste I must spend time in the studio. Prior to Spain, I purposely didn't perform because I spent the last year in the studio," he revealed.
His current appearances, he says, means a serious comeback, with the possibility of doing a compilation, which could include one or two reggae tracks.
"I love Bob Marley, love reggae music. When I want a change of the pace from soul, I go to reggae. When I am tired of reggae I go to the blues," said Tito.
The Sumfest audience will remember him for his injection of blues at the reggae festival and the earth-shattering voices of back-up singers, Tamika and Larry Johnson, as they performed the tribute song Can You Feel It. The performance of Bob Marley's peace anthem, One Love also went down well.
"It was the first time that I performed with Tito, and it was fantastic. I knew about my performance four days before," Tamika told The Gleaner, adding she was honoured to have been asked by her husband, Larry, to fill in.
With the saying, 'all work and no play makes Jack a dull boy' ringing true, Tito, who is equipped with a personal butler and a Jacuzzi on his balcony with a view of the Caribbean Sea, went parasailing with his significant other, Sonia Galindo, on Sunday morning.
Enjoying the island
"Parasailing was fun," said Tito. "I was scared, I wanted to get down," Galindo said.
Tito said there are also two more things on his wish list.
"I want to see the alligators at the Black River Safari and I really want to go to Bob Marley Museum," he stated.
Tito said he was also excited about an upcoming venture as he will launch his own line of Californian wines in September - Primitivo (reds) Jacksonay (white).
While he seemed to be enjoying the island as he tries to get on with his life after his brother's controversial death, he cannot escape reality. As The Gleaner left his hotel room at the Iberostar Rose Hall on Monday afternoon at 12:30 p.m., he received a call advising him that there was a possibility that Michael Jackson's doctor may have been responsible for his death.
janet.silvera@gleanerjm.com