American comedian Steve Harvey paid the briefest of visits to Bermuda yesterday to help launch this year?s Bermuda Music Festival, where he will host this October helping introduce household names such as Gladys Knight, Frankie Beverly and Maze and R&B singer Teena Marie.

Even the snappily dressed Deputy Premier Dr. Ewart Brown was put in the shade by the trendy American TV, film and radio star as he whooshed into the Tucker?s Point golf club house wearing an immaculate, light-coloured pin-stripe suit and one of his a trademark white hats.

Despite having just stepped off a plane and having to re-board a flight back to New York only 45 minutes later, Mr. Harvey still found time to crack a few jokes about golf and being forced to fly economy class as well as speak of his amazement at the sight of Bermuda?s turquoise waters and litter-free countryside.

The ?King of Comedy? promised to tell his morning show radio listeners across the US about Bermuda?s delights as he promotes the Bermuda Music Festival and the Charity Golf Fest held over the same four days this October.

He said his listeners included many affluent African-Americans who he felt would be tempted to come to Bermuda.

Tourism Minister Dr. Brown was upbeat outlining treats in store for festival-goers this year and acknowledging the whistle-stop nature of Mr. Harvey?s visit to attend the launch of the 2006 Bermuda Music Festival and Charity Golf Festival.

?I couldn?t think of a better way to advertise Bermuda?s close proximity than to have one of the most recognised celebrities slip in and out of our Island in just under four hours...that?s pretty impressive,? he said.

Tickets for this year?s Bermuda Music Festival go on sale today, and festival-goers will be able to see multi-Grammy Award winner Gladys Knight topping the bill along with a host of other artists including Harold Melvin and the Blue Notes, the original Manhattans featuring Gerald Alston and Blue Lovett, Charlie Wilson of The Gap Band and the band who recorded ?Disco Inferno? The Trammps.

A number of Bermuda?s own homegrown artists, including Ras Mykkal, will also be on the bill during the festival between October 4 and October 7.

Dr. Brown said: ?We will also feature out popular trophy suites. The suites hold up to 45 people upstairs and downstairs, offer air conditioning, private restroom and an entertainment area. They will be available for purchase for $30,000 per night and I particularly urge local businesses interested in sponsoring this year?s festival to get in contact.?

The Charity Golf Fest will support a US charity and the Lupus Association of Bermuda. Dr. Brown thanked the partnership of Alex Madeiros and the participating golf courses, of which Tucker?s Point is one, for assisting in the second running of the golf event.

Dr. Brown said both events were being promoted overseas to attract more visitors to the Island and he encouraged Islanders to book their tickets and to ?stay tuned as more developments unfold.?