Jimmy Tucker to perform at culture fest

Howard Campbell, Gleaner Writer

As a prodigy in Trench Town during the 1950s, singer Jimmy Tucker recalls making the rounds with the community's celebrities which included singer Lascelles Perkins and guitarist Ernie Ranglin.

But no one carried more weight in Trench Town than a Rastaman named Mortimo Planno. Though he was a devout Christian, Tucker said Planno's Afro-centric sermons had an enduring impact on him.

"Planno was a peaceful man. He was a sign of wisdom and calm," Tucker told The Gleaner last week.

Now an elder in the Moravian church, the 67-year-old Tucker will pay homage to the Rastafarian faith and the 45th anniversary of Ethiopian Emperor Haile Selassie I's visit to Jamaica, by performing at the 'Survival World Culture Music Festival'.

The event takes place from April 20-27 at the Trelawny Multi-purpose Stadium.

"To me, it's not a concert in the common sense but a community call of artistes to observe an historic moment," Tucker said.

Planno was by Selassie's side when he arrived in Kingston for an official visit on April 21, 1966 at what was then the Palisadoes Airport. Tucker was at college in the United States studying theology, but said he was aware of the visit's significance.

"I got into a lot of arguments at college with colleagues who said I was defending Rasta, but I told them Selassie was as important to the black man as Gandhi was to the Hindu," Tucker said.

Born in west Kingston, Tucker began recording inspirational and patriotic songs in 1951 as an eight-year-old for Guyana-born producer Clyde Hoyte.

He has eight albums to his name, the last being Rise Up which was produced by the legendary Clement 'Coxson' Dodd.

At the time of the Selassie visit, Rastafarians were still suffering widespread prejudice from mainstream society in Jamaica. Most people frowned at their belief - based on Selassie being a descendant of the Solomonic line - that the Ethiopian emperor was God.

Selassie I had made official visits to Trinidad and Tobago, Barbados and Haiti prior to arriving in Jamaica. He received a rapturous welcome from the country's growing Rastafarian community.

While in Jamaica, Selassie I met with prime minister Sir Alexander Bustamante, addressed parliament and was awarded a honorary degree from the University of the West Indies.

Selassie I was reportedly killed by Ethiopian rebel forces in 1975. Planno died in 2006.

Planno's protégé and nyahbingi drummer Ras Michael, guitarist Earl 'Chinna' Smith and his Inna De Yard band, Capleton, Sizzla and Tarrus Riley are also scheduled to perform at the Survival World Culture Music Festival.