Legendary divas remembered in song

Many hearts broke in Bermuda at the news that Whitney Houston had suffered a cardiac event and drowned in Los Angeles last year.

The nation and the world lost the pop icon whose hits included I Will Always Love You and Saving All My Love For You, but whose past was steeped in gospel music.

All those who loved her will be able to relive her songs at the Tribute to Legendary Divas concert being hosted by Jamais Productions. 

Whitney, as well as Donna Summer and Teena Marie, will be honoured in the production on November 2 at the Ruth Seaton James Centre. 

Whitney classics I’m Every Woman, The Greatest Love of All and I Wanna Dance With Somebody will be performed by local songstresses including organizer Rochelle Simons Lecomte. Others include Rovonne Roberts — daughter of Rochelle, Teanne Trott and Verlencia
Aberdeen.

Simons LeComte told the Bermuda Sun: “Why these divas? Last year was my tribute to Michael Jackson and this is my tribute to them. All three of these legendary divas  recently passed away. 

“I am one of Whitney’s biggest fans I was totally devastated when I heard of her death. I heard when my sister called me from overseas and said ‘have you heard? Are you looking at the television?’ 

“Donna Summer is one of my all time favourites. I was living in Manhattan at the time I first heard her music. 

“And Teena Maria, I heard about her through my sister. I was coming home from a holiday and she had picked me up from the airport and she had the tape of course and that’s when I heard of her she was singing Fire and Desire.”

Joining the girls on stage will be the Jamais Production back up dancers, backing
vocalists Halo, and Bermuda Soul Collective Band under the direction of James Richardson. Dion Ming and Jamie Zuill will perform a couple of duets with the female vocalists also. Proceeds from the show will go towards The Sunshine League.

Guests are encouraged to follow the colour code and come dressed to impress in purple, black or white. They will enjoy a distinctly burlesque theme during the night. 

“We will base our outfits on the divas somewhat,” explained Lecomte. “The Donna Summer acts are going to be off the chain — strictly burlesque. Once the show starts, we will kick off with her songs including, of course, Love To Love You Baby and I Feel Love. I will be opening with MacArthurs Park and I’ve made that into a circus performance. I got the idea from watching a show in France — an old gentleman starts singing and a guy on a unicycle starts circling him. I’m using a Bermuda Gombey, a ballerina, a fire blower, a gymnast and two clowns.

“We want everyone to dance. They have taken out seats out in the front so you can get up and dance.

”For VIP patrons the evening will begin with a cocktail reception at 6:30pm. The general public will be admitted from 7:30pm.  Show time is at 8:30pm sharp and there will be an intermission half way through the show.