Nadine Sutherland Celebrates 40 years in the Entertainment Business after Tastee Talent Contest at 11 y-o

By Howard Campbell Observer senior writer  Tuesday, December 31, 2019

Nadine Sutherland (third left) is flanked by (from left) Tastee
Director Simone Chanpong; Howard McGowan, former Tastee
 judge and entertainment editor at The Gleaner; Sangie Davis,
songwriter; Copeland Forbes, booking agent/tour manager; and,
 Tastee CEO Patsy Latchman-Atterbury. The occasion was
 to mark Sutherland's 40th year in the entertainment
business. It was held at Tastee headquarters on
 Half-Way-Tree Road yesterday.

In December 1979, 11-year-old Nadine Sutherland left her home in rural Above Rocks, St Andrew, and went to Tastee in Cross Roads to participate in the grand final of the Tastee Talent Contest, which she won over fellow singer Paul Blake and a brash albino deejay named Yellowman.

Yesterday, Sutherland returned to the location that kick-started her career 40 years ago. Once again, she walked away a winner as the company and IMAGES LLC (out of New York) acknowledged the milestone with a citation, during a ceremony in Tastee's boardroom.

The event was attended by her mother Beverley Sutherland, Howard McGowan, one of the contest's original judges, her mentor Sangie Davis and veteran booking agent/road manager Copeland Forbes.

Sutherland thanked her family, Davis and McGowan for their roles in her development. But she gave a special nod to Tastee, which was founded by the Chang family in 1966. The company's CEO, Patsy Latchman-Atterbury and director Simone Chanpong, were in attendance.

Nadine Sutherland and mom,
Beverley Sutherland.

Nadine Sutherland

“To Tastee, my destiny has been so intertwined with you. You are a representation of a corporate entity of Jamaica who invested back into the people so a Nadine Sutherland can stand here right now. So, I really want to thank you 'cause you did change my life; you did give me a platform,” she said. “I'm a country girl singing 'round the area; I met Bob Marley, I met Peter Tosh; Sangie wrote my songs. It's like a Cinderella story, so I'm forever thankful to you.” more