Artistes assist veteran singer facing hard times

Entertainers Little Lenny and Richie Stephens are among a growing list of persons who are ready to help 1970s reggae singer Yvonne Sterling, who has fallen on hard times.

Her plight was highlighted in The Gleaner last week, when it was revealed that her New Haven, St Andrew, residence had been flooded out when the Duhaney River burst its banks after a weekend of rain.

Both Stephens and Lenny visited Sterling a few days after they read her story. "I cried when I saw it," Lenny told THE STAR. "I knew that I had to find her by any means necessary. I had just received some money from a bredren and it was on the table and I decided that I was going to give her that money, as a start. So I got in touch with the people who had her contact and called her immediately, but didn't get an answer. The following morning, I called again and she answered. And the thing is, that when she came out to greet me, is like she knew me," Lenny added.

Big Hit

Stephens recalled that four years ago while in Brazil, he met a radio disc jock who told him that Sterling is among a handful of reggae artistes who are hugely popular there. Her song, If You Love Me (Let Me Know), is a big hit in the South American nation.

Stephens called his Brazilian friend and asked him if he had heard of Sterling's woes, and he said yes. Not only has Stephens reached out to Sterling, but his friend is also planning a fund-raiser to assist the down-and-out singer.

"The people in Brazil want to pledge some money and my friend on the radio station is going to have a programme where people can call in and do that. I am optimistic that something positive is going to happen. This is going to change her situation. Her spirit is still there, her voice, her energy are still there. Watch out for something beautiful coming out of this," Stephens said.

Additionally, London-based Alex Caramellino, who sells vintage vinyl records, has set up a GoFundMe account at (www.gofundme.com/f/yvonne-sterling-fundraiser) to raise PS1,000 (approximately J$193,000).

Caramellino met Sterling two years ago when he visited Jamaica and wanted a licence to re-press a limited number of a record she has, Oh Jah, which is hugely popular in Europe.

"Sadly, I wasn't surprised when I saw the story. I released one of Yvonne's songs a couple years ago and at the time I've found out she was struggling. However, after watching the video I decided that I had to do something to help her. So I have set up the page and whatever money comes from that I will be sending it to her," Caramellino told THE STAR.

Lenny, however, is asking unscrupulous persons to stop making requests for dubplate specials at this time.

"She is not ready to go into studio and do dubs right now. Just allow her to try and piece her life together. Richie and I told her sister to monitor it and not to accept any of these offers," he said.