Founding member of Third World band, Stephen ‘Cat’ Coore, has recollections of theatre icon and pioneering broadcaster Leonie Forbes visiting his home when he was a toddler as a result of she was mates along with his mom, musician and broadcaster Rita Coore.

Throughout the many years, his respect for Forbes multiplied, and final week Saturday, whereas on stage on the NYCB Theatre at Westbury in Long Island, New York, he paid an evocative, musical tribute to his pal. His music of selection for Forbes, who handed away on October 25, was the National Song for Schools I Pledge My Heart Forever, and his favoured instrument was the cello.

He instructed the viewers, “My really good friend Leonie Forbes passed away. If there’s anyone here [who] knows who I am talking about, say ‘Irie!’ Okay, well, I want to do this one for her and for all of you because mi know plenty Jamaican deh yah!”

Coore pulled the heartstring of each Jamaican within the viewers as they equipped the lyrics to accompany the deep, wealthy, vibrant sound of the cello.

“Usually, if it is Independence or anything happening where a lot of Jamaicans are present, I usually play that song,” Coore instructed The Gleaner. “Leonie had just passed, and she was an iconic Jamaican, so playing I Pledge My Heart Forever was appropriate. I kinda felt from when we were rehearsing that it would be special… I could feel the vibe. It was an honour to do that for Leonie.”

Expanding on the friendship and Forbes’ legacy, Coore shared, “I would have seen her passing through the house from I was about six or seven because Mummy was on the radio during 1960/61, and both she and Leonie were broadcasters. Leonie is responsible for so many firsts in broadcasting and theatre … she and Miss Lou changed up the whole trajectory of Jamaican entertainment. She and people like Charles Hyatt were instrumental in setting up Jamaica’s theatre and film industry. Leonie is in every movie except The Harder They Come.”

Coore was one of many performers of the Evening of Elegance at NYCB Theater, headlined by internationally acclaimed singer Beres Hammond. He is now trying ahead to performing for the Issa Trust Foundation’s For The Children charity gala at New York City’s Sony Hall on November 12

“We are ambassadors for the Issa Trust Foundation, and Third World is front and centre in helping to build the Mary Issa Health Centre in Richmond, St Ann. We are all the way strong with them on this,” Coore stated passionately.

Clearly educated concerning the mission, which can see the inspiration begin the development of its personal youngsters and adolescent well being centre within the Ocho Rios space, Coore famous that the power will present medical experience in areas similar to cardiology, gastroenterology, oncology and psychological well being help. Vision screening might be provided together with free glasses, if wanted.

“The project is admirable to the max. Right now, the focus is on Richmond, but we are hoping that, in the future, the net will be widened and more children will benefit. And another great thing is that it is not just for babies; older kids will also benefit. These children need mentoring, and they need love. So many things are happening in the society now… we hear about kids killing kids. Hello! Come on; we can do better than that,” Coore declared.

The Mary Issa Health Centre is known as in honour of Issa household matriarch, Mary Issa, who was passionately dedicated to healthcare for kids throughout her lifetime. On provide might be paediatric and adolescent providers, along with speciality clinics, psychological well being help, imaginative and prescient, listening to exams, and first care. The centre can even provide rotation programmes for docs to associate with native Jamaican docs.

Coore then made a pitch for individuals to come back out of their numbers and help the occasion on November 12.

“This is a very worthy cause. Third World will be there … Leon & The Peoples, that group with Leon from Cool Runnings, will be there … and it will be an evening to remember. Do it for the children of Jamaica,” Coore pleaded.

yasmine.peru@gleanerjm.com