Join the roast for friendly comic fire

One of Bermuda’s pioneering entertainers is to be honoured  — but with an evening of criticism and insults.

Gene Steede will be the butt of everyone’s jokes at his own comic roasting on Sunday, January 23.

The Gene Steede Comedy Roast & Toast takes place at the Mid-Ocean Amphitheatre at the Fairmont Southampton Resort.

A whole host of Bermudian artists, who are friends or fans of Mr. Steede, will get on stage to try to embarrass him.

The line-up includes Jah Simmons as the roastmaster, Gita Blakeney-Saltus, Gina Spence-Farmer, Bruce Barritt, Ronnie Lopes, Ron Lightbourne, Dale Butler, Bootsie, Shine Hayward, June Caisey and Nadanja.

Mr. Steede is expected to be humiliated, but he will have the last laugh as he “gets his own back on everyone” with a finale performance. The event could not come at a more fitting time, as Mr. Steede was awarded with an MBE for services to music and culture in the Queen’s New Year’s Honours List.

Mr. Steede is much-loved as one of the island’s most seasoned entertainers, in song, comedy and musical ­instruments.

He was also responsible for hiring musicians and entertainers in hotels and is known for performing at the airport and in his TV Christmas special.

Jah Simmons, CEO of MULTI Entertainment, said: “We are honouring Gene Steede as a person who has done so much for entertainment.

“He’s a man who has put Bermuda on the map.

“He’s done so much for tourism, he’s the reason why many tourists came to Bermuda.

“We want to let him know that we haven’t forgotten about him and everything he’s done.

“We are coming together to support a local hero and a pioneer in the entertainment industry.”

The Comedy Roast & Toast is said to be a “very important and special event”, with proceeds going to MULTI Entertainment’s scholarship fund and Mr. Steede’s medical costs.

Mr. Simmons said: “We understand many of you went in hard financially over the Christmas and New Year holiday, however we truly hope you can find a way to support this event.

“Too often we wait until our heroes die to honour them.

“It would be a great injustice for us not to honour a man that has done so much for Bermuda’s tourism.

“I don’t want to hear any of those shoulda, woulda, coulda excuses.

“You may as well show your ­support for a local hero as you’ll all drink that $65 (the cost of a ticket) somewhere that same night anyway.”

Mr. Simmons got the idea for the event from the comedy roasts on U.S. TV station Comedy Central.

The programmes have celebrated artists such as Pamela Anderson, Jerry Stiller and David Hasselhoff.

The Gene Steede Comedy Roast & Toast has been on the cards for about a year with Mr. Simmons calling Mr. Steede “a real good sport”.

The evening will end with everyone tucking into a huge birthday cake, as Mr. Steede celebrated his 70th birthday yesterday.

Mr. Simmons, who is one half of the Two Fools ­comedy duo, said he was “blown away” when he first saw Mr. Steede on stage about six years ago.

“Unfortunately I didn’t grow up watching him when he was in his prime, but I wish I had,” he said.

“He reminds me of ­myself as he is able to work with any crowd, although unlike me he is vocally gifted and plays instruments.

“His wit is still very modern and it hits people really, really hard.

“He’s got real charisma and whenever I watch him perform, I just find myself smiling.

“With all the entertainers, both old, current, and up and coming, it is important to know where the grassroots began.”

The event was originally due to take place this weekend, but has now been postponed until January 23.

The mission of MULTI Entertainment, which ­became a registered charity in April, is to “rekindle the desire for ­local entertainment and production”.

More events are being planned throughout the year.