Veteran reggae singer Richie Stephens brought down the house at Jamaica Fest on Sunday, with a powerful live performance that captivated the capacity crowd gathered at Veterans Plaza in downtown Silver Spring, Maryland.
Stephens pranced on stage with knee-high strides, like a 100-meter Olympic sprinter, and quickly got in the groove, treating fans to his rich catalog of hit songs that showcased his versatility across genres. From the smooth lovers’ rock ballads “A Woman’s Touch” and “Trying to Get to You,” to uplifting anthems like “Winner” and “Reverse the Curse,” Stephens kept the audience singing and dancing throughout his set.
The performance reached an emotional high with soulful renditions of “Color of Love” and “Statue of a Fool,” before he shifted gears into a gospel medley that had the crowd in a praise and worship mood. With his honeycomb voice sounding sweeter with each song, the musical onslaught continued with Monty Morris’ 1964 ska hit ‘A Little More Oil.’ He took the music-thirsty crowd further down memory lane with Prince Buster’s ‘Wings Of A Dove’, which made way for the dancehall tinged ‘Weakness for Sweetness.’
The singer from Westmoreland had music lovers eating out the palm of his hands before closing with a stirring rendition of Sam Cooke’s 1964 hit “A Change is Gonna Come,” which reminded fans why he remains one of Jamaica’s most respected vocalists.
The annual Jamaica Fest event drew 2,000 plus families, music lovers, and members of the diaspora to downtown Silver Spring, including the newly appointed Ambassador at the Embassy of Jamaica in Washington D.C., Major General (Ret’d) Antony Anderson, to celebrate Jamaican culture with food, arts, and live entertainment.
Prior to his appearance at Jamaica Fest, which was presented in part by the Embassy of Jamaica in Washington, D.C., Richie made a stop at The Valley in the Bronx, New York City, the day before, where he performed at an outdoor community event hosted by the Valley for Life Committee. In reflecting on his weekend of performances, Stephens expressed gratitude for the outpouring of support.
“It was a very good weekend. I just want to take the time to give thanks to the Embassy of Jamaica in Washington for the opportunity to perform at Jamaica Fest for the very first time and the Valley for Life Committee in the Bronx for hosting me at their event. I must also thank the creator for his continued blessings in my life,” Stephens said.
Stephens also took time to salute his selector at the Jamaica Fest event.
“Big up DJ Hunter from Jamaica. Your first tour and you mash up the place. I am proud of you. And once again, love and respect to the masses who turned out for both events.”
With a career spanning decades, Richie Stephens’ ability to blend classic reggae and dancehall with Ska, gospel, and R&B continues to resonate with audiences worldwide — and Sunday’s performance proved once again that his voice is as powerful as ever.
