Karrie Williams, Star Writer

Freddie McGregor performing on International Night II of Reggae Sumfest 2014. - Janet Silvera

WESTERN BUREAU:

Legendary reggae artiste Freddie McGregor was on Sunday morning given the highly acclaimed Reggae Sumfest Award for 2014, as he brought the curtains down on International Night II, bringing a fitting end to the 22nd staging of the festival.

During the presentation done by Sumfest organisers Robert Russell, Johnny Gourzong and Godfrey Dyer, with assistance from the night's MCs, Paula-Anne Porter-Jones and Francois St Juste, McGregor was declared as being largely responsible for developing and maintaining reggae's appeal internationally.

In accepting the award, the musical great expressed sincere gratitude to Reggae Sumfest for the honour bestowed on him and also thanked patrons who had been waiting inside the Catherine Hall Entertainment Complex all night to see him perform.

And then there was pure magic!

McGregor wasted no time in pleasing fans with his melodic voice, unleashing a catalogue of his greatest hit songs starting with I See In You, followed up by If You Wanna Go and several others.

Loud cheers echoed throughout the Sumfest arena as patrons delighted in the musical feast that was being served up; many no longer cognisant of the drooping eyelids and tired feet that had earlier threatened to overcome them.

But in the true nature of a superb performer, McGregor knows just when to pause and give his audience a break, and that he did midway through his set by inviting his sons, Daniel 'Chino' McGregor and Stephen 'Di Genius' McGregor, who are themselves accomplished artistes, to perform.

Following their performance, which was also well received by patrons, McGregor was joined by daughter Yeshemabeth and her mother, Judy Mowatt, for a beautiful rendition of So Much Of Me. And then, once again, he took back the controls where he continued to thrill partygoers well into the daylight hours of Sunday morning.

In receiving the award, McGregor joins previous winners Beres Hammond, Lady Saw, and Shabba Ranks in the Sumfest Hall of Fame.