‘Nadine Sutherland OD … I am thrilled!’

From winning the first Tastee Talent Contest in 1979 as a precocious pre-teen to her imminent steps across the immaculate lawns of King’s House where she will pick up the Order of Distinction on National Heroes Day, Nadine Sutherland’s journey has been nothing short of remarkable.

Sutherland, whose hallmark is a combination of quiet dignity and solid professionalism, has maintained a huge presence on the entertainment scene since her sojourn which started more than four decades ago. And her seasons just seem to keep getting better. What could arguably be her crowning glory came on Independence Day, August 6, with the announcement that the Government of Jamaica was inducting Nadine Simone Theresa Sutherland in the Order of Distinction in the rank of Officer for her contribution to the development of Jamaican music.

Upon hearing this, the singer and songwriter was overwhelmed with emotion.

“My neighbour came to me and said they were trying to call me from the Office of the Prime Minister. In my head, they were calling me about some Grand Gala ticket. I totally forgot that dem do dem somm’n yah at this time,” a candid Sutherland told The Sunday Gleaner.

“When I got the call, mi just start scream and bawl at the same time. I just bawled. I was just crying. Then my neighbour came in and hugged me and said, ‘You are so deserving.’ I kept it down because I know they had to announce it. But I just want to big up my family … I have an amazing family. My cousin Michelle felt that I deserved an OD. From last year she went on a campaign … she got my sister, my aunties, everybody … I call her drill sergeant. When I told her this morning that I got the OD, we were both crying,” the Action singer shared.

Without even knowing what her cousin’s plans were, earlier this year, Sutherland’s good friend, Canute Lawrence, called to inform her that he was setting his own ‘OD for Nadine’ campaign in motion and got other friends of his involved and they all put in her nomination for this year. Everything came together seamlessly.

Whether it was the alignment of the stars or the work of the God of the universe, August portends greatness for Sutherland. On Emancipation Day, August 1, she was crowned the ‘Real Princess of Reggae and Dancehall’ by the organisers of the weekly dance, Original Dancehall Thursdays. The committee, which comprises veterans Major Mackerel, Peter Metro, Oneil ‘Famous’ and Snagga Puss, met and decided that there was none better to receive this honour.

Again, Sutherland, a former judge on ‘Digicel Rising Stars’, was surprised, but immensely pleased that the work she had done was not lost on people.

A quick read of her bio tells an interesting story. Raised in Above Rocks in St Catherine, a young Nadine began performing in 1979, winning the Tastee Talent Contest that year, beating Paul Blake and Yellowman. She was the first artiste signed by Bob Marley to his Tuff Gong label, recording Starvation on the Land while aged 11. Hands and Heart, A Young One Like Me and Work and Pray, were recorded early in her career. She went on to work for Donovan Germain who produced her 1993 hit Action, a collaboration with Terror Fabulous. In 2007, the track was included by Vibe at number 19 in its list of the 50 greatest duets of all time. Buju Banton’s Dickie was remixed as Wicked Dickie with Sutherland adding vocals, and this topped the charts in Jamaica. In 2015 she completed a master’s degree in cultural studies at The University of the West Indies.

“Again, I don’t really even look for stuff. I am just busy living my life and then this just came out of the blue. And I am really very honoured because it’s dancehall stalwarts. And my father had a sound system from when I was a little girl and I used to sing on it. This is like the old-school dancehall stalwarts who decided that throughout my career and throughout my life I deserved being called the Princess of Reggae and Dancehall. Not the queen … I wouldn’t even tek the queen because Miss Marcia is still here. And who seh mi waan claim dancehall queen, that’s good with them. I look at it and I’m like Dennis Brown was the Crown Prince of Reggae and now I am the Crown Princess of Reggae and I just give thanks for everything.”

yasmine.peru@gleanerjm.com