by Craig HarrisWith his smooth, crooning, tenor vocals, up-tempo arrangements, and spiritually uplifting themes, Everton Blender (born Everton Dennis Williams) is one of the top performers of Jamaicas dancehall tradition. In addition to receiving the prestigious Chicago Martins International award, Blender received South Florida Reggae/Soca awards as most improved entertainer in 1996 and 1997. According to The St. Louis Dispatch, Blender evokes memories of classic reggae performers of the past. Rootsworld added Blenders voice is a friendly, expressive purr, skipping sure-footedly through and around melodies, supported by varied, bouncy, instrumentation rooted in signature booming reggae bass, kept light by lively percussion and bright background vocals. Blenders musical career was launched when he entered an amateur contest at the Bohemia Club, singing Dennis Brown songs under the name Babbaru. Winning the contest on his second attempt, he be...