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Judy Boucher sings for charity
Judy Boucher performs. PHOTOS BY EDGAR R, BATTE
If you missed Judy Boucher’s concert you ought to kick yourself. The singer who made your mother and daddy feel lovey-dovey is still going strong.
Revellers at the Kampala Serena Hotel had to wait for three straight hours for this gem, and when she finally shared her sweet voice, the audience could not hold back- old turned gold.
From the Sunshine Medley, Can’t Be With You Tonight, Some Broken Hearts Never Mend, to Dreaming of a Little Island, the crowd- young and old, with a few notables, sang along to the soulful love songs which Boucher sang with as much emotion as the lyrics hold. And memories naturally came alive. Former Vice President and MP for Busiro North, Prof. Gilbert Bukenya told his times in the US, when, Boucher’s The First Night I Met You was just released.
“Those who love and know how to love know what I mean. Tears On My Pillow ,was the other. If you have been in a relationship with your loved one for some time you will realise that it is natural for tears to fall on your pillow. I have been a great fan of Judy Boucher and I am glad to be part of the audience,” Bukenya explained.
“I am one of the greatest admirers of Judy Boucher. Her songs like Send Me the Pillow (that you dream on) where big hits when I met my wife Mary,” MP, John Ken Lukyamuzi “the man” shared with the crowd.
That was before the crowd and Buganda Kingdom’s Charles Peter Mayinja faulted Lukyamuzi for the way he was pronouncing Boucher, provoking a unison break out into bouts of laugher.
Sad, compassionate, emotive, Judy Boucher’s music was sweet and sensational, the way you would melodically feed from a legend whose songs you only heard as you grew up.
The titles of her music told much of the emotions she loaded in her ‘goldies’ music, with somewhat poetic undertones, songs like Everything I own, Hurt So Good, Raining In My Heart, Moon River, Trying To Get Over You, Hopelessly Yours, To You I Send My Love, That Night We Met… the couples in the houses had a good time.
The Nyakanas- Sarah and Godfrey- held hands and momentarily stood up to shake their bodies to the leisurely unwind of reggae, Rn’b and soul. But the enjoyment was for a good cause. Legendary Judy Boucher offered to perform as her contribution to help fundraise for Uganda’s first multipurpose home for the elderly. It will be called the Senior Adult Empire, A project run by Ambition for Health, a local NGO. “This is a great initiative. Care homes for the elderly are vital to each and every community,” Boucher, herself in her evening years, emphasised.
Revellers gave in generously and State Minister for the Elderly and the Disabled Sulaiman Madada led with Shs1m, Prof. Bukenya pledged Shs2m, Shs1m from State Minister for Economic Monitoring in the Office of the President, Henry Banyenzaki, Shs1.2m for John Ken Lukyamuzi, Shs1m from the Speaker of Parliament- Rebecca Kadaga, Shs1m from MP Elijah Ekupa and $2,000 (about4.95m) from musician Ragga Dee, among other donors.
