A member of the COB Concert Choir performs at the 26th Annual Colour of Harmony; and bottom left: The Governor General Her Excellency Dame Marguerite Pindling is escorted on a tour of the artwork on display for the 26th Annual Colour of Harmony.
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Nassau, Bahamas - If
you have ever seen John Berkley “Peanuts” Taylor perform, then you are
likely never to forget it. His effervescence and energetic skill
as a dancer, singer and drummer are legendary.
His
stage has been any number of the historically famous entertainment
enclaves around Nassau - Jungle Club, Confidential, Junkanoo Club,
Spider Web and the Drumbeat Club – among others.
At the recent 26th
Annual Colour of Harmony, held at The College of The Bahamas under the
patronage of the Governor General
Her Excellency Dame Marguerite Pindling, the man who has left audiences
in awe of his talent accepted another distinguished honour.
COB’s
School of Communication and Creative Arts (SCCA) presented the renowned
entertainer with the E. Clement Bethel Award for Excellence
in the Arts. SCCA bestows the honour on an exceptional and
distinguished artist every year. Mr. Taylor has joined a fraternity of
notables including: Mr. Percy “Vola” Francis, Mrs. Joann Behagg, Mr.
Roderick Pinder and Mr. Kendal Hanna.
For
over 70 years “Peanuts” Taylor has been entertaining people from all
walks of life. And he has loved virtually every moment of it.
At the ceremony held at the Performing Arts Centre, the academic and
artistic community paused to shine the spotlight on his contributions to
the development of the performing arts in The Bahamas.
From left: the Governor General Her Excellency Dame Marguerite Pindling, John Berkley “Peanuts” Taylor and COB President Dr. Rodney D. Smith share a light moment while taking this photograph.
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“It
is fitting to honour Mr. John Berkley “Peanuts” Taylor who has
contributed tremendously to the development of the Bahamian culture,”
said Chair of the School of Communication and Creative Arts Mrs. Lottis
Shearer-Knowles.
Mr.
Taylor, a Justice of the Peace, was pleased and honoured to accept the
E. Clement Bethel Award. He has been honoured by the Queen
and dubbed Member of the Most Excellent Order of the British Empire
(MBE), and has received the Laureate Seal of Honour from the National
Trade Union of Cuban Culture in conjunction with the TURARTE agency.
Paying
homage to “Peanuts” Taylor was one of the highlights of the Colour of
Harmony event. The rest of the evening was dedicated to the
broad depth of student talent in the performing and visual arts. Under
the direction of Mrs. Audrey Dean-Wright, the COB Concert Choir
skillfully performed favourites like “This is my Country”, “O Zion”,
“Pieta Signore”, “I Can Go the Distance”, and “Ride
Up in the Chariot”. The COB Concert Band also demonstrated its
diversity and passion by performing “Prophesy”, “Beauty and the Beast”,
“As Winds Dance” and “Rolling Thunder”. The band performed under the
direction of the Head of the Visual and Performing Arts
Department Mr. Christian Justilien.
“It’s
always good when our students have opportunities to showcase their
talents and we are happy that the Colour of Harmony consistently
provides those opportunities,” Mrs. Shearer-Knowles said.
This
year, the best in student artwork
was again on display in the two exhibition spaces of the Performing
Arts Centre which came alive with the vibrant and creative paintings,
ceramics and drawings.
