Millie Small: The Jamaican Homecoming 1964

Millicent Small, better known as Millie Small remains the most successful female Jamaican singers, having sold over seven million records. She can also be classified as one of most mysterious Jamaican born singers and one of the most talked about in show business, and in general.
Her story is well documented, both facts and fiction, and is due mainly to her self imposed exile for more than 35 years. If Millie has been trying to make a statement through her action, that point or points would have been very well made.
From her little district in the Milk River area of Clarendon she moved to downtown Kingston and settled with her aunt, in the heart of the vibrant city. Millie entered and won the popular `Opportunity Hour` talent contest at the Palladium Theatre in Montego Bay and then got into local recording and finally went to England in 1963. She took the world by storm with the remake of Barbie Grey's 1956/57 song, `My Boy Lollipop, in 1964. From out of no where little Millie Small became an overnight sensation. The song smashed charts in no less that 12 countries as little Millie basked in the spotlight and jetted the around globe in order to make appearances and fulfill engagements.
Her trip took her back home in time for Jamaica's 2nd anniversary celebration in August 1964. The red carpet treatment was fully extended to the little Queen who arrived at the Montego Bay International Airport, now the Donald Sangster International, and then on to the Palisadoes Airport, now the Norman Manley International Airport. She was met an arrival by a VIP Party headed by the then Custos of Kingston, Russell Graham, Millie's mother and the promoter of the homecoming, Stephen Hill and a host of admirers. From the airport she was driven in an open back car throughout the streets of Kingston as hundreds of citizens lined the streets to greet the new superstar. The government of Jamaica headed by Prime Minster Alexander Bustamante and his cabinet, feted Millie and bestowed upon her several gifts. She also paid a courtesy a call, along with her manager Chris Blackwell, on the then Leader of the Opposition, Norman Manley. Thousands turned out at the National Stadium in Kingston to see Millie as well as many who turned up at the then Sheraton Hotel to see her perform and do the Ska Dance. The action also moved to May Pen, Clarendon, Millie's parish of birth, where she performed at the Capri Theatre. After a hectic week Millie left the island to continue fulfilling worldwide engagements. Since then the record will show that she returned on at least two occasions with the last known being in 1971. After the great success of the `My Boy Lollipop` era things seemingly went downhill for Millie, and with it, her self imposed exile. Many stories of her demised have been branded around and a whole new generation of Jamaicans are fed with tales of Millie.

In 2003 I travelled to the village and viewed the spot where the house in which Millie once lived, stood. Her relatives were more than surprised to see someone coming there to enquirer about the little girl, few people living there could remember. Many expressed a wish to one day meet their famous relative while artistes such as Derrick Harriott, yearns to see her return and to work with her. The world still awaits the return of Millicent Small and from what was reported in the Sunday Gleaner of October 15, 2006, and according to Millie's manager, Arley Cha (Charley Cross), the famous super star would have been back in the music business in 2007. Despite what the circumstances are Millicent Small is a national treasure and every effort should be made by the powers that be in Jamaica to get her to reunite with the people of her homeland. The process could start by awarded her the The Order of Distinction(OD) and a gift of a parcel of land as afforded others in the entertainment industry. Then again, would Millie graciously accepts the offer?
Colby Graham/Vintage Boss