by Kavelle Anglin-Christie, Staff Reporter

Freddy McGregor is apologising to his fans for not performing at the Foundation Music Showcase last weekend. - Contributed

American singer Peabo Bryson wasn't the only one listed as a 'no-show' at the Foundation Music Showcase at the Constant Spring Golf Club, last Saturday night, as so was singer Freddy McGregor.

However, McGregor said he was at the venue, but was not given the opportunity to perform. Still, he wishes to apologise to his fans.

"The fans didn't see me perform and I want to apologise for that, but I was there. I don't know what happened, but all I know is that I kept asking for my money and it wasn't forthcoming. I was very disappointed just like the fans were. As an artiste, it doesn't feel good knowing that your fans are waiting for you to perform and you are in the venue and you were unable to do so. I just really want to apologise to my fans," he said.

Promoter of the event, Errol Bailey, said he did not wish to counter what McGregor said.

"We were having problems with artistes not being able to perform and things like that. So I don't want to counter what Mr. McGregor said," said Bailey.

Bailey also explained why Bryson was absent from the show, though he was paid in full (over $2 million) for the event. "The agent and the manager lost contact and Bryson was on tour at the time and when he came back to America, the band dispersed and it was difficult to get them back in time. Up to Friday night we were in discussions to get him here. Our last proposal was that Peabo still come down for the show, but explain to the audience what had happened."

International flavour

Bailey said, "This year we just wanted to give the fans something with an international flavour and that didn't happen. So that's when we decided to get Ray, Goodman and Brown to still give the people a taste of what they wanted."

Ray, Goodman and Brown are known for their songs, Love on a Two Way Street, Special Lady, among others.

Other artistes billed for the show, but who did not perform include, Chakademus and Pliers, Alton Ellis and the Mighty Diamonds.

As a result of the Bryson and other no-shows, the Fair Trading Commission (FTC), which is responsible for matters affecting consumers, has decided to take action against Bailey.

Under section 37 of the Fair Competition Act (FCA), misleading advertising is an offence. An individual promoter can be fined up to $1 million dollars and if it is an organisation, up to $5 million.

According to Sasha Shillingford, senior legal counsel for the FTC: "We are going to be pursuing it with the full force of the law."

In the meantime, Bryson's camp is yet to return the money to Bailey. When asked whether he would be taking action against Bryson if the FTC took action against him, Bailey said: "I'm not one for lawsuits, but I want them to refund our money. If we are having problems getting it back then we will have no choice but to take action. We have been in dialogue with his agent and it doesn't seem like there will be a problem, but we will see."

Will there be another Foundation Music Showcase next year? Bailey says: "Yes, but we will have to put on a show with a lot of incentives, because we have been building up a steady clientele for three years. So again, we just want to apologise to the fans for what happened."