Sadeke Brooks, Staff Reporter

A number of top local artistes have joined Beenie Man on the mega concert, dubbed 'Let's do it for the Alpha Boys', being held at the National Indoor Sports Centre tomorrow.

While they were not present to pledge their support, some of the acts who will be performing on the show are Freddie McGregor, Beres Hammond, Richie Stephens, Tarrus Riley, Ky-Mani Marley, Bounty Killer, Mavado, Gyptian, Khago, Fambo and D'Angel. The event will also feature bands like the Jamaica Military Band, Alpha Boys Big Band, Omega Element, Dubtonic Kru and 50-50.

At the press conference yesterday where the artiste line-up was announced, Beenie Man boasted that it did not take much effort to get other artistes on board, as the school has produced some of the country's greatest musicians.

"I feel anyone get this opportunity woulda jump to it because Alpha has produced some of our greatest musicians in Jamaica and we are always trying to do that good cause. We have been doing charities for communities, building football stadiums, school and all these things. There's no production coming from there, it's just doing it for the community so that people can benefit from it. But when you do this for Alpha, you are actually making more musicians, more footballers, more for Jamaica, so that more Jamaicans can go out there and show people the talent of Jamaican people," Beenie Man told THE WEEKEND STAR, prior to the start of press conference at The Jamaica Pegasus hotel yesterday afternoon.

While he may not have attended Alpha Boys' School, Beenie Man says he has very close ties to the school.

"I have a lot of friends from there. Every band that I have been with, somebody is from there," he said.

music industry

Sister Shirley Chung, director, Alpha Boys' School, also noted that the school which was established in the 1880s had contributed a lot to the country's music industry. Therefore, "I ask you to continue with your support as we move upward and forward."

Meanwhile, Richard Joseph, president, Rotary Club of Kingston, explained that his group was planning to do a project of a much smaller nature but it somehow blossomed into something huge. He said this money will be used to refurbish bathrooms, the lunch room, farm and sports facility, as well as buy music equipment.

"It's (the concert) a real value for money and I know it is going to be a great concert," he said.

In addition to his performance at the concert and galvanising support for it, Beenie Man said he would still be buying the instruments he promised to buy even before being approached to do the concert.

"I was planning to buy some music equipment which I was going to do regardless of the concert. That was a promise and I'm still going to keep my promise. It's not a prestigious show, it's a show to make money for Alpha," Beenie Man said.