She was once, the “Queen of the Dancehall”, and not just nationally, but internationally, her music, climbing the Charts everywhere. Making the diminutive figure, larger than life, when she hit the stage and belted out her chart-topping songs, and her electrifying stage performances, setting her apart from the pack. The pack following a distant furlong or two, in her wake!
She was sexy, she was hot and she had the stage presence of a Star, exuding the cosmopolitan sexiness of the fabulous order. Her Global audience could not get enough of her and her feisty performances. Those waiting in the wings, copied her every move and attitude. She really was a musical hurricane, her galeforce winds, the harbinger of much-anticipated change in the musical order.
Not Since Diana King, ripped the musical world, a new order with her Shy, Guy, had the world seen the likes, talent, and promise of Patra, the performer.
As even tho she had been around and even competed at Sting, and was steadily building her musical creds, and iconic image in the mold of Egyptian Pharoah, Cleopatra, when Sony Records signed her, it was as if, She went from being an unknown to being an instant celebrity… And then, just like that – Poof! She vanished, leaving the musical world in a tail-spin, her fans and commentators all agape, as they all sought answers for her disappearance. She being a young artiste, with the world at her feet, described as Reggae’s first hip-hop, pop, dancehall jazzy crossover, whom many dubbed, the Future of the music.
She was Lady Patra, Dancehall’s first performing Diva, not because of gimmicks or staged attention-grabbing spectacles. But because she was Lady Patra, Queen of the Pack, an ultra-talented, performer, gifted with a super lithe body, a bedroom voice that commandeered any stage and served up the unmatched sauce, of ultra sexiness anytime she hit the Stage, earning the moniker, Queen Patra, an elevation from her adopted stage name of Lady Patra.
Oh, what a joy and beauty she was to behold!
And then after dropping her Homage to one of her early influences, the Reggaerized cross-over Cover of Grace Jones’s Pull-Up-To-The-Bumper, to the dismay of her fans and the music-loving world, she went MIA (Missing In Action). For a period spanning years…
During this time, stories surfaced, suggesting that she was having problems with her management team and needed a break to find herself, recharge and refocus; then there were the stories of her being arrested for fraud, but no reports of a trial and or conviction recorded against her; and there were the ugly rumors of her supposed drug-addiction; But the magic being during all of this, whilst still searching to find a new groove, she reportedly met and fell in love with the debonnaire, handsome playboy, businessman, and hotelier Donahue Jarret, with some reports claiming the two, got married. A report, still not yet confirmed by either of the two.
Well, this was a match, no one saw coming, as, while Patra was the Queen of the Dancehall, Donahue Jarret was Prince of the Cocktail circuit, always sporting the bespoke look, with the mannerism of the Country Squire, whilst she sported her signature ‘Batty-riders” and near ankle length braids, and seemingly comfier, in the Dancehall.
As the two settled in with each other, reports emerged that Jarret, a scion of a well-established Jamaican family of entrepreneurs, was eyeing a musical career himself, much to the chagrin of his family, and this resulted in placing some strain on the relationship. To move on, they put that aside and embarked on their very own entrepreneurial course, with the launching of their very popular Chateau, 7 a Jerk, eatery, over there in the uptown neighbourhood of, Stony Hill, that fast became a celebrity chill-spot, known and celebrated for its Jerk dishes other experimental menu choices and natural juices. All this time, however, Patra, never took her eyes off her goal to return to the stage and her musical career.
And as she mastered her culinary skills, earning rave reviews from National newspapers and the internationally respected New York Times, her yearning to return to the recording studio and performing, became an all-consuming passion.
And so, after debating it with her partner, and her contacts in the music industry, Patra, and Donahue ostensibly decided on relocating their business, to a family location, where Security concerns would be minimized and they would have more free time to explore and prepare for her return to her musical career.
Many saw the relocation as Patra’s way to take a break from the everyday humdrum of managing the business; some say, it offered her the opportunity to put the finishing touches to her promised and anticipated, Cook-Book. But others saw it as Patra’s way of heading back to the Studios to resume her Performing and recording career.
Well, in an exclusive chat with Images and Profiles, The Queen of the Pack, disclosed that there’s talk of a potential movie role; she is now back in the Recording studios, completing some records; to follow with some new releases, and she’s in talks for a North American and Caribbean tour, to reconnect with her fans and new audiences, and that she is rearing to go, as this is all set to kick off this very Summer…
What can we say, but Queen Patra, we, your musical subjects, await your return with breath that is bated and hurry back because we miss your talent, your majesty!
