For over 20 years, Clyde White was the go-to promoter of reggae shows in Minnesota. He took the biggest artistes to that state, located in the United States Midwest.

Since returning to Jamaica in 2012, White has seen a need for more live shows in Negril, the town where his career started during the early 1970s. On February 16-17, he makes his comeback with Vintage Solid Gold Rocksteady, which takes place at Wavz Beach in the resort town.

“Tourists always asking mi, ‘why can’t we see more shows like this in Negril’. They want good music, music dat mek reggae great,” White said in an interview with the Jamaica Observer.

According to White, “shows like this” go back to reggae’s roots. Acts like Judy Mowatt, Naggo Morris (former lead singer of The Heptones), and Otis Gayle, who sang with Byron Lee and the Dragonaires for many years, are scheduled to perform on opening night.

U Roy, Cornel Campbell and The Tamlins, whose careers took off in the 1970s, are the featured acts on the second night.

White’s Massagana Music Promotions are organisers of the event, which will honour Lloyd Parks and We The People Band on their 44th anniversary. Similar acknowledgement will be shown to Ray Arthur, a businessman who owned the Golden Sunset Hotel in Negril, which staged a number of reggae shows in the 1970s and 1980s.

It was there that St Mary-born White worked as Arthur’s protégé. The Golden Sunset was also where he first met Parks and acts like Dennis Brown over 35 years ago.

After leaving the Golden Sunset, White moved to the US in the late 1980s and settled in Minnesota. He was responsible for bringing some of reggae’s top acts there.

“You name them, I brought them. Israel Vibration, Delroy Wilson, Leroy Smart, Brigadier Jerry, Capleton. Wi use to play clubs like Grand Slam an’ Fine Line, an’ always get good crowds,” he recalled.

White said he also worked the Chicago reggae scene, managing Ethiopian band Dallol, former backing of Ziggy Marley.

He hopes Vintage Solid Gold Rocksteady will spark a revival of ‘vintage’ music in Negril.

“Di place need it. People don’t want jus’ dancehall, dem waan hear di authentic music,” he said.