There are conflicting reports regarding why reggae singer Sanchez did not appear on Rebel Salute 2007. While the singer's manager is saying he was treated unprofessionally, promoter Tony Rebel is saying, "not true."
By Adrian Frater"We got there at 11:40 p.m. and were ushered in by Tony Rebel himself," said Monica Jackson, Sanchez's manager and wife. "However, from that moment we got inside, nobody said anything to us. Kevin (Sanchez) was standing backstage in the mud all night but was never called up to perform."
However, in dismissing the allegations, promoter Tony Rebel says Sanchez's contract did not specify the time he should work and that because the artiste had left the venue without performing, his management was now trying to find excuses.
"I pay him a down payment of $150,000, provided him with three plane tickets from Miami and provided him with a bus on his arrival in Jamaica," said Tony Rebel. "Having not performed, they are now worried that I am going to be asking that they reimburse my money."
Tony Rebel also said it was wrong for Mrs. Jackson to be saying she was at Rebel Salute, as he knew for a fact that she did not arrive in the island with her husband. Tony Rebel says that while the singer and his publicist used the tickets he bought for them, Mrs. Jackson never used her ticket.
"The ticket I bought for her was not used so I know she is not in Jamaica," said Tony Rebel. "She is only pretending that she is here and if she continues to try to smear the reputation of Rebel Salute, I might have to seek redress in the courts."
However, according to Sanchez's publicist Vannie McGowan, the singer was backstage all night waiting to perform. He said Sanchez reluctantly decided to leave at about 7:10 a.m. after he had become extremely frustrated, watching other artistes who were not billed perform.
"It was just frustrating, they never even offered him a bottle of water," said Ms. McGowan. "When he left, the venue was bathed in sunshine and some of the patrons were leaving. When he got back to the bus, he was so distressed by the situation that he broke down in tears. He really wanted to perform for his fans."
However, in emphasising that there was no specified time for Sanchez to work in his contract, Tony Rebel said he saw nothing wrong in the fact that he was not called up to work as one of the early acts. He added that the artiste never indicated to him at any time that he was ready to perform.
"He never indicated that he was ready to take the stage so we were surprised that he left the venue without performing," said Tony Rebel. "I honoured every aspect of the contract I signed with him, so we should be the ones who have a problem with him not performing."
However, in declaring that their experience at Rebel Salute was the worst Sanchez has encountered in his career, Mrs. Jackson said her husband would never work on another Tony Rebel production.
"They lack professionalism and they don't seem to know what they are doing," said Mrs .Jackson. "I am particularly unhappy that we were treated in this manner and that Tony Rebel did not see it fit to offer an apology."
