Janet Silvera, Senior Gleaner Writer
Montego Bay's most celebrated promoter Sonny 'Rankine' Williams and his wife, Christine, at their annual New Year's Eve bashment at the Caribbean Showplace, on Monday night. - Photos by Janet Silvera
WESTERN BUREAU:
At 2:00 a.m. Tuesday morning, Hummers, F150s and just about any make sport utility vehicle (SUV) were rolling into Montego Bay's Caribbean Showplace.
It didn't matter what other parties the drivers had sampled earlier, the New Year would eventually find them sipping Moet and Chandon, Hypnotiq and Hennessey at Sonny Rankine's annual bashment.
The calendar event provides a boon for the second city's informal commercial operators who sell brand name clothing, beauty supplies and hairpieces. Not to be outdone are the haridressers and nail technicians who begin to see a flood of clients from as early as December 29.
Dedicated patrons
After 15 years, Rankine and his dedicated following have not only become the conversation piece for Montego Bay's uptown and downtown crowd, but now lay claim to being one of the most sought after parties in the tourism capital.
Months ahead of New Year's Eve night, women prepare for this bling event, with one intention in mind - to outdo each other ... while the men have, over the last five years, creatively mastered the art of donning some of the most innovative and fashionable styles on the dancehall scene.
December 31, 2007 was hardly any different; outside of a larger crowd, an area depicting 'VIP's only' and a section reserved for a lower entrance fee, the men again this year outclassed the women's wardrobe audaciously, and the only sectional prizes they couldn't walk home with were 'low cleavage', 'skimpiness' and 'tease me baby until I lose control'.
Outside of that, Sonny Rankine's ball was an exquisite fashion show that, again, passed the test of time.
Between Sanchez's, Brown Eyed Girl, Dennis Brown's Love & Hate Half Pint's Greetings and the '70s, '80s and '90s hit makers, Rankine succeeded in rekindling a furnace that only he knows how to cool.
Patrick Brown and Nicola Harrilal smile happily on the dance floor.
