Evergreen reggae star Johnny Osbourne knows how to rock a crowd and the iconic Jamaican singer’s performance at tonight’s Veterans in Action Annual Remembrance Day event at BAA Gymnasium promises to be no exception.

“I am going to bring the real stuff,” the 66-year-old said. “No carbon copy or bluff, but the real stuff.

“When me come to sing, I want it sound just like what you heard — and that’s what you are going to hear. I’m going to bring everything: dancehall, roots ... everything.”

“Johnny Osbourne the dancehall godfather will definitely be in Bermuda and a dub plate definitely play in a Bermuda tonight!”

Mr Osbourne, who recorded extensively for late Jamaican producer Sir Coxsone Dodd at the latter’s iconic Studio One label in the late Seventies and early Eighties, is best known for hit songs Truths and Rights, Buddy Bye, Ice Cream Love, Little Sound Boy and Water Pumping.

Given his enormous success in the reggae music industry spanning decades, that this is Mr Osbourne’s first visit to Bermuda comes as something of a surprise.

“This is my first time coming to Bermuda, so I’m looking forward to it very much because it is a place that I always wanted to experience,” the veteran reggae artist said.

“Now I have a chance to get to know what Bermuda is all about and it’s going to be a pleasure.

“A lot of people talked to me about coming to Bermuda in the past but nothing materialised, so I had to wait for something like this to materialise. I’m looking forward to this trip.”

Sharing the limelight with Mr Osbourne will be Singing Melody, his compatriot.

Singing Melody, whose real name is Everton Hardweare, has earned a good reputation for both his abilities as a vocalist and as a producer.

His hits include Shower Me With Your Love and Want You Back, which soared to the top of the Jamaican Star’s reggae/dancehall charts, while the music video for the song peaked at No 2 on the MTV2 playlist and was chosen as Song of the Year at the 1999 Reggae/Soca Music Awards.

Mr Osbourne and Singing Melody are the latest veteran reggae artists to appear at the Remembrance Day event, following in the footsteps of legendary dancehall trio Half Pint, Admiral Tibet and Courtney Melody, who performed at the previous event held at CedarBridge Academy.

Also performing this year is local R&B/reggae singer Jessie Seymour, while music will be provided by local sounds King Jyrus, Conscious J and Three the Hard Way.

Tickets for tonight’s show are available at People’s Pharmacy, Fish N Tings, Belvin’s Variety, Somers Supermart and Hunt’s Liquor, and can also be purchased online at www.bdatix.bm.