Nov 4, 2006 — Thousands came out to Tempo's first-anniversary concert Saturday, filling Cramer's Park Beach on the east end of the island ready to jump, wine' their waists and wave their flags.
"When Tempo does something, it can't be ordinary — it has to be extraordinary," said Frederick Morton, the music channel's senior vice president, general manager and founder. Morton's dream became a reality one year ago, and he decided his home island of St. Croix would offer the best place to celebrate the day.
Tempo is not only a dream come true for Morton, but it has also become a revolution for those who have witnessed its birth and growth over the past year. "Tempo is a revolution that is being televised," said VJ Jeanille, turning a famous Gil Scott-Heron line on its head.
The revolution has spanned across the Caribbean, bringing Morton's dream to life. The best part of the experience for him has been hearing the effect the channel has had on all Caribbean people: "When you hear the five-year-old saying 'Feel the Tempo, Watch the Tempo,'" Morton said, such responses make all the hardships worthwhile. Obstacles and "resistance" on the mainland pushed Morton to begin his channel in the Caribbean. "We needed to talk to each other first, " he said.
On Friday the channel hosted a press conference at Divi Carina Bay Resort. Celebrating the anniversary would be like celebrating his birthday, Morton said, promising an incredible show. Artists on the lineup promised not just to bring their "A game," he said, but to bring their "A-plus game." Saturday's concert proved just that: an A-plus. The crowd went wild each time a different artist graced the stage.
Tempo brought something for everybody. With different artists offering soca, calypso, reggae, salsa and compas music, people from all backgrounds sang and danced to their favorite performers and got exposure to music they may not have known if not for the channel.
"We are working very hard to do one thing," Morton said. "Unite the region through culture." The time has come, he said, to "shine the light" on the incredible talent in the Caribbean and change the world's view from vacations and umbrella drinks to culture and unity: "The entire process is one of educating others on who we really are."
The show began at 4 p.m. Saturday and continued into the next morning. "We've been partying the whole day and whole night," Jeanille said.
Tempo's anniversary show brought the channel's biggest artists to the big island, while artists like the Xzecutives, Stroka Band, D'Apostle and Kenya represented St. Croix and the Virgin Islands at the start of the show.
"I came to see Stroka," said 17 year-old Amina Hill. She and her friends arrived at the beach early to get a good view of the band, whose members are not too far from Hill's age.
Sweet Micky and Strings played a mixture of music that included Haitian compas, urban and American styles. If not for Tempo, Micky said, many of the people in the audience would never have heard of him or the style of music indigenous to the people of Haiti. "I have been doing this for over 10 years, and many of you don't even know my name," Micky said as he took the stage.
Huey Dunbar, son of Jamaican and Puerto Rican parents, brought salsa and reggeaton music to a large Latin turnout, introducing many islanders to a sound they have heard before, but with a twist of urban flavor. "I have only been to two Caribbean islands," Dunbar said, expressing excitement about his first visit to St. Croix.
Bringing roots, rock and reggae to the crowd were acts like Jahbari, King David, David Kirton and Morgan Heritage. Flags waved and lighters and cell phones flashed in appreciation of the music. The audience responded enthusiastically to the love and culture the artists brought forth from their souls.
Fists pumped the air as artists like Ziggy Rankin, Wayne Marshall and Ding Dong hit the stage blasting dancehall and reggae hits. The audience sang along to every song, roaring from their souls, matching and increasing the energy of the artists.
Audience members eagerly obliged as Denise "Saucy Wow" Belfon, Alison Hinds, Rupee and Machel Montano urged them to "start to wave," "roll your waist" and "wine' and bend over."
The stage came alive with colors, music and fun, reminiscent of the many carnivals and celebrations islanders have come to expect.
Much more will come, Morton said. The channel hopes to bring not only more music but also food and sports to its viewers. Morton said he has more islands to visit, more culture to showcase and more Caribbean lifestyles to embrace.
Tempo can be viewed on 20 Caribbean islands and currently supplies 1.5 million viewers with their daily dose of Caribbean "flava."
For more information about Tempo, visit its website.
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