by BARRY ALLEYNE

THREE OF this country's rising musical stars have hit the big time, earning their biggest gig since easing onto the international market within the past two years.

And 70 000 people will get the chance to see just how good they are.

Hal Linton, Shontelle and teenage prodigy Vita Chambers will get the opportunity of a lifetime on Thanksgiving Day (November 26), when they perform in front of 70 000 people as part of record label Universal Motown's 50th anniversary special.

Bajan rising stars Shontelle, Hal Linton and Vita Chambers (Picture source: Facebook)

The three will be part of a six-artiste performance at halftime of a nationally televised National Football League (NFL) game between the home club Detroit Lions and the Green Bay Packers that will have a television of audience of almost 20 million people.

Linton was originally scheduled to face Barbadian fans over the Independence weekend at a two-day festival at which Prime Minister David Thompson was to be the patron, but bigger clients have come a-calling.

The game will be broadcast across North America, and in front of 70 000 fans at Ford Field indoor stadium in downtown Detroit, Michigan. It will be by far the largest fan base to hear Bajan artistes since Rihanna made it big four years ago.

The thanksgiving game is a staple for American sports fans, as the Lions have played on Thanksgiving Sunday for almost half-a-century, and the NFL is currently on a high as the leading professional sports organisation in the United States.

Linton had been originally booked by Barbadian-based At Last Productions to perform at the Plantation Restaurant at the show Trident Dynasty on November 26 and 27, as part of a festival pushing all local artistes, but that event has now been deferred until next year.

The soul/R&B singer, songwriter and producer who was born on Christmas Day, 1983, was inked to a million-dollar deal by Universal Motown last year, and his debut album Return From The Future is set for release before year-end.

"This is a great chance for Barbados to again showcase its talent and let the world see what we have to offer to the entertainment industry," At Last Productions' director Allison Thomas told the WEEKEND NATION.

"It's a true tribute that on their 50th anniversary, a label like Universal Motown would choose three Barbadians out of six to perform on the national stage in the United States," Thomas said, adding that she had no problem with losing Linton for the local show under the circumstances.

"This show will introduce and reintroduce great Barbadian talent to the world at the same time."

The performance will be a prelude to all three Bajans bringing out albums in the first quarter of 2010.

Chambers, unknown to most Barbadians, is a 15-year-old soft rock prodigy signed by Universal Motown earlier this year. Shontelle earned international recognition in 2007, with her smash hit T-shirt, which topped Billboard for a few weeks.

The other three performances will come from Melanie Fiona, Kem, and rock & roll group Forever The Sickest Kid.

Source: The Nation

This is such a great opportunity and I am so happy for them! To be honest, I had kinda given up on Shontelle because she didn't seem to be getting anywhere but hopefully this would give all of the artistes the exposure they need.

I smell a Bajan Invasion...!!