Sophia Brown performs during the launch of her latest album. - Anthony Minott

Sophia Brown's PERFORMANCE at her album launch on Wednesday night ensured that it was a night to remember for the singer and her growing legion of fans.

Before a gathering of supporters, friends and players in the entertainment industry, Brown, dressed in a body-hugging black dress with cut-outs revealing small portions of her well-toned abdomen. She delivered a performance that at once demonstrated her growth as a performer and the quality of the new album that was launched worldwide on Tuesday, and that she officially released in Jamaica on Wednesday night at the Kabana Restaurant on Hope Road.

receptive audience

Against a backdrop of a giant screen that earlier in the evening was showing music videos and images from her latest album, Catch Me If You Can, the curvaceous singer gave the receptive audience a taste of what to expect from her latest work. The album was produced by Brown on her label, Musicmecka Records and shares executive producer credits with Junior Blake.

Among other quality songs, it features collaborations with Luciano Mama Africa and the talented Hezron Clarke Relationships, a cover of the Betty White original Tonight Is The Night, Poverty, and Give Me That Good Love. She performed them all which delighted the gathering. The album had been pre-released a few days earlier in the United States and Japan. However, on Wednesday there was freshness to the occasion that the gathering enjoyed.

Brown began a concerted drive to have a solid recording career about four years ago, and in that time has demonstrated a steel will and unrivalled focus that has borne fruit. It were these attributes that entertainment consultant and director at FiWi Choice Clyde McKenzie spoke of as he paid tribute to Brown's accomplishments over the past four years. He said Brown was an example for other entertainers in the industry to emulate.

The St Elizabeth-born singer, who shared the evening with her two children Daniela and Jahmel, thanked the many people who have supported her efforts over the years, telling stories about her life along the path to success. She said it was a night to remember. "It was an incredible turnout by the media and fans, well wishers and my industry family," she said afterwards. "I am grateful to the Zojak family for their full support. The band did an amazing job, Fiona Williams, Christopher Campbell and Krystal Crueie. I also want to thank my kids for their love and support."

The highlight of the night, she said, was to be able to perform live for the people who were there "to see my growth". "Clyde's speech was very well said," she remarked. "Having him there to support me and the product was also very good."

She also expressed gratitude to some of the people who helped make her album a reality and Wednesday night special. "It was also good to have some of the musicians who worked with me on the album - Dalton Browne, Robbie Lyn, having Hezron, who shared the song Relationships, come and sing, with me, I loved it; also Anthony Q who came and did his thing as well. I had fun."

Other speakers on the night also included Aaron Mahlfeldt, president and CEO of Zojak Worldwide, a site dedicated to the distribution of reggae music globally, and which is distributing Catch Me if You Can. He also praised Brown for her work ethic and the quality of songs she produced that he believes will eventually make her into a star.

Other entertainment stalwarts in attendance included Isaiah Laing of Supreme Promotions, Jerome Hamilton of Headline Entertainment and members of the Cashflow team that have worked with the singer over the past few years, helping her produce some of the songs that have helped her gain international recognition.

(See pictorial highlights from the launch in tomorrow's STAR)