Manager denies Bryson did not fulfil obligations to Foundation Music Showcase Peabo Bryson. - file

By Andre Jebbinson, Staff Reporter

Peabo Bryson's management is denying ever agreeing to perform at the Constant Spring Golf Course, St. Andrew, in January.

On January 6, patrons were outraged when they turned up to see Bryson perform at the Foundation Music Showcase but were left hanging. The event's promoter, Errol Bailey, then expressed shock at the 'no-show' and apologised for the mishap.

Now almost three months later, after getting hold of two articles published in The Gleaner, a letter sent from Franklin and Associates Inc., Bryson's management company, states that Bryson was never contracted to perform in Jamaica around that time.

Part of the letter read, "I have been managing Peabo Bryson since 1975 and have booked all of his performances. However, I have never spoken to "Errol Bailey" or "The Foundation Music Showcase" nor have I ever contracted with these parties for Peabo's performance in Jamaica in December or January, 2006 or 2007".

Almost impossible

The letter further stated that "no monies or deposit were received by this office and no contracts were issued by his management office or from Peabo Bryson, directly."

Apparently, it would have also been a difficult task to get Bryson to Jamaica. David Franklin, Bryson's personal manager, says that the singer departed for Atlanta, Georgia on December 26, 2006, for concerts until January 5, 2007, in Europe. This would have made Bryson's appearance in Jamaica almost impossible since he would have had to leave England for the concert in Jamaica on January 6.

"The promoter called me in January and asked if there is any way I could get Peabo Bryson in Jamaica. I said no because he just finished a multi-nation tour," Franklin said.

When THE WEEKEND STAR contacted Bailey, he said he made the arrangement for Bryson's appearance through a booking agent and not Bryson's management. He went on to say that the contract was signed by the agent and a deposit handed over to him by Delroy Carol, the middle man.

The deposit, Carol says, was handed over to Steve Turner, the booking agent from Diversify Entertainment.

Turner, when contacted, said, however, that he is not to be blamed. "The fault lies in the promoters in Jamaica. I tried my best to make the show happen. It was hard to make a show like that happen in four days," Turner said.

Never informed

According to Turner, all monies had to be paid 30 days before the date of the show, but the last instalment was received only four days before. Had everything been in place, he says that Bryson would have been in Jamaica.

Bailey, in the meantime says, that he has learnt a lesson from this incident. "From now I will be sure to take the contract to the artiste to make sure he signs before."

He said that he trusted the agent for the event. He said, however, that he was never informed that Bryson was on tour in Europe and was told on the eve of the concert that Bryson had trouble assembling his band to make the trip to Jamaica.

"I don't know exactly what happened, but it is very unfortunate. Promoters go through hell. I don't know if it's because they (the agents) know the blame will fall on the promoters why they don't make the effort to get it right," Bailey said in his defence.

Turner is still in possession of the money but says that it will be available if Bailey asks back for it.

The Fair Trading Commission is carrying out investigations in relation to Bryson's non-appearance at the show.