Concerts in the Park

Vashon Events and the Vashon Park District have announced the lineup for the annual Summer Concerts in the Park. The extremely popular and free outdoor concert series will begin on Thursday, July 2nd and run through Thursday, September 10th. All concerts start at 7pm and are held in Ober Park on Vashon Island. Enjoy live music performances from today’s top talent in rock, folk, reggae and blues performing against one of Vashon’s most beautiful outdoor backdrops. Plus there will be a night of Shakespeare in the Park.

Bring the family!  There’s plenty of grass and natural burms to spread out those picnic blankets and enjoy some wonderful music on a warm summer night.  Families can come relax, let the kids play on the playground and enjoy the entertainment at these summer events.

Concerts in the Park are presented by the Vashon Park District and curated by Vashon Events.   If you’ve never experienced the warmth of community at the cool nights of summer concerts in the park, you’re in for a special treat.
 Clinton Fearon is counted among Jamaica’s most talented musicians by peers and professionals in the Reggae music industry. His infectious bass lines, guitar licks, percussion accents and powerful vocals make Clinton Fearon a living legend among reggae musicians and fans.  

Clinton Fearon was born in St. Andrew, close to Kingston in Jamaica, but he grew up deep in the hills of St. Catherine. He discovered harmony one day while he was singing alone on a stone. And soon after Clinton joined the choral at the Adventist church where him and his Dad were going.

He left the country side to live with his mother in Kingston when he was about 16. He found a construction work and built pieces of the roads and corners in Kingston! But music was his goal and at 17 Clinton formed his first group called The Brothers. They were looking for opportunities to play around Studio One and Treasure Isle, the two main places for musicians to make it in those times.  At the end of 1969, Clinton was playing guitar in his yard when Errol Grandisson passed by and heard him. At that time The Gladiators already had their first hit with Hello Carol. They were looking for another vocalist to replace David Webber, who left shortly before. Clinton met Albert Griffiths, original founder of the group, and became the third Gladiators at the age of 19. He was a member for 18 years, playing bass, singing, working on arrangements, learning and giving as much as possible for the love of music. Clinton Fearon signed several songs for The Gladiators, hits and classics like Chatty Chatty Mouth, Richman Poorman, On The Other Side, Can You Imagine How I Feel, Let Jah Be Praised, One Love, Untrue Girl and more.

Clinton was also playing in session for Coxsonne Dodd at Studio One and, for about 6 month, for Lee ‘Scratch’ Perry at Black Ark. He composed many lasting bass lines, sometimes getting credits and sometimes not, like for the hits Roast Fish And Cornbread, sang by Scratch, or Come Along by the Bells, among the few songs Clinton can remember he was on. “Scratch rarely had the proper credits for musicians and I was just happy to play so…” explains with Clinton with no regrets. So you can hear Clinton Fearon’s bass lines on albums from Yabby You, Jimmy Riley, Max Romeo, Junior Byles and many more.

The Gladiators were touring all around the world, playing in the US and Canada, being famous in France, Netherlands, Belgium, Germany, Austria, England, Ireland… The Gladiators were the first reggae group to play in Morocco, in September 1982! The group helped building an important part of reggae music’s foundation and was one of its best ambassador worldwide.

In 1987, after The Gladiators end up a tour in the U.S., the musicians had excess time on their visa and some decided to stay, in order to make a little extra money before flying back to Jamaica. They created a group called The Defenders. It was Clinton Rufus on guitar, Winston Carty on drums and vocals, Errol ‘Tarzan’ Nelson on keyboards and Clinton Fearon on bass and vocals. Alric Forbes, a Jamaican living in the U.S. for some years, was on guitar and vocals. The group set base in Seattle, Washington. Clinton Fearon wrote the lyrics and sang lead vocals on The Defenders’ EP Chant Down Babylon / Rock Your Bones. The effort reached charts on The Reggae Route Top 20 (CMJ New Music Report, 1989), on radio and magazine charts around the country. The Defenders created a solid audience in the Northwest. In 1990, Clinton Fearon released his first compilation of original songs with The Defenders, Feel The Spirit, on his own label Hot Fire, and only available on cassette. But after about five years of activity, the band split. And Clinton decided to stay in Seattle.
In 2014, Clinton Fearon is releasing his 10th self produced album entitled Goodness.  

Each song of Clinton Fearon is a strong message coming from the heart of a man who dedicates his life to help a better world to come. With chiselled music and poetic lyrics, he opens reggae to a wider audience who simply loves his beautiful songs.

“ My music is roots reggae from the island of Jamaica. I grew up deep in the hills, up in St. Catherine, surrounded by nature, beauty and hard work. Even as a child, I knew I wanted to be a musician and began my career singing in church and at school, and eventually built my own guitar! As a teenager, my journeys took me to Kingston where I met many musicians and began writing and recording music. The Skatalites, Motown artists and Jamaican musicians who came before me all influenced my music.

I write from my heart. The world is full of inspirations… nature, people, politics, love. I write about them all. My music is good for the soul - always with a message of hope and betterment for tomorrow. It’s good for dancing, good for listening and I think it’s good for all.” Clinton Fearon

Please remember that there are no dogs allowed at Ober Park. Alcohol and smoking are also not permitted.
Thursday, August 27th, 7-9pm
Concerts in the Park
Ober Park
Clinton Fearon