Reggae Impresario Tommy Cowan Marks 80th Birthday in North Miami

Reggae industry stalwart Tommy Cowan has reached the 80-year mark. The longtime impresario observed the occasion on April 6 at Circle House, the North Miami base of the Inner Circle band, surrounded by relatives and well-wishers.

Cowan, who handled management duties for Inner Circle over many years, shared the day with his wife, gospel singer Carlene Davis, four of his children, two grandchildren, and an extended group of nieces, nephews and cousins.

"It was just amazing, I had a wonderful time. It was spontaneous, it was natural, just pure love," Cowan told Observer Online. "The Inner Circle family, the Lewis brothers, Ian and Roger, Abebe Lewis (Ian's son), (keyboardist) Touter Harvey, it's something that is personal."

Guests at the gathering included former Third World drummer Willie Stewart; Oliver Mair, Jamaica's consul general in Miami; Miramar vice mayor Eddy Edwards; Lauderhill commissioner and broadcaster John "John T" Hodgson; and attorney Lloyd Stanbury.

On the personal side, Cowan singles out his 42-year marriage and his conversion to Christianity more than three decades ago as the moments that mean the most. Professionally, he points to staging the One Love Peace Concert in Kingston in 1978 and organising Bob Marley's performance at Zimbabwe's independence celebrations in Harare the following year as career-defining achievements.

A native of St Elizabeth, Cowan is the ninth of 11 children born to Pastor Thomas Cowan Senior and his wife. He broke into music with The Jamaicans, the group that captured the 1967 Festival Song Contest with Ba Ba Boom.

His decades in the business have spanned several roles. He produced Eric Donaldson's Cherry Oh Baby, the 1972 Festival Song Contest winner, served as a marketing executive at Dynamic Sounds and Tuff Gong International, and managed Inner Circle, Junior Tucker, Israel Vibration and Dennis Brown. He also established Talent Corporation and Glory Music.