some of the Island's most-seasoned entertainers unite in a tribute to the late singer/comedian Eugene Arthur (Rubberneck) Ming.

Ming, the father of Bermuda's most popular comedian Earwin (Bootsie) Wolffe, sang, joked, and tap danced his way into the entertainment world in the sixties and seventies with the late Don Gibsons' Holiday Island Review.

Ming was planning to do a circuit of primary schools at the time of his death in February, 1977.

His last performance was at a benefit concert at Prospect Primary, Bootsie who was 10 at the time recalled.

"I attended Prospect Primary at the time and students were planning a trip overseas,'' Bootsie said. "They asked him to put on a show to help raise the funds.'' While Bootsie was not sure that his father influenced his desire to entertain, he admitted that he has learned more about his father "good and bad'' in the past few years than what he knew of him when he was alive.

He remembered visiting Bermudiana hotel, where his father performed, and hearing his father sing "Brotherhood of Man''.

"Rubberneck had one of the most beautiful and natural voices,'' recalled Gibson's widow and Holiday Island Revue costume designer Mrs. Elsbeth Gibson.

"He had perfect pitch, a wide range. And no one worked harder than he did.'' Mrs. Gibson noted that when her husband, who was a veteran in the entertainment industry in New York, came to Bermuda in the 1950s there was an abundance of raw talent waiting to be showcased.

"My husband knew there was a lot of talent and he wanted to get these people recognised,'' she said.

Ming, along with original Review members -- Gene Steede, Pinky Steede, June Caisey, Bill Caisey, and Dudley Brown -- drew crowds every night of the week at hotels all over the Island, Mrs. Gibson also recalled.

"It was a very good show,'' she said. "Popular with locals and visitors. It was a wonderful outlet for young Bermuda talent. Every year we gave a different show which was a combination of modern and calypso sound. The shows ran for some 20 years.

"Then there was a period when no one did anything (in terms of local entertainment). But I think they have made a full circle now.'' Mrs. Gibson said with talents like that of Bootsie, Pinky Steede, and others around the Island, there was no reason why there should be a shortage of work for local entertainers. She said an act similar to the Review could be revived.

Bootsie, who expressed interest in the idea, said his main aim is to see a smile on his audience' faces.

"I feel my job is accomplished when I see people laughing and happy. It just strengthens me,'' said the comedian who at one point wanted to be a physical education teacher.

Bootsie said he had also been thinking of paying tribute to his father for some time.

With the encouragement of June Caisey and his brothers, he said he decided that the time was now right.

June Caisey, who first performed with Ming when she was about 10 years old, will give a solo, special tribute called "Gone Too Soon''.

"It is really sentimental for her,'' Bootsie said. "Probably, more so for her than for me. She has been trying to get me to do this for about three years.'' Other local entertainers scheduled to perform at the two shows, on Sunday at The Harbour Room in Number One Shed on Front Street, include Gene Steede, Pinky Steede, Bill Caisey, Dudley Brown, Cedric Thomas Jr., and Sandra Looby (Choudhury).

The main act will be the Manhattans.

The audience will also be treated to performances by Bootsie and his brothers.

Admission to the shows, at 7 p.m. and 10.30 p.m., is $35 per person. Tickets for a group of eight or more are $30 each, and patrons will pay $40.

Tickets are available at 27th Century Boutique.

PAYING TRIBUTE -- Local comedian Bootsie and Elsbeth Gibson, widow of entertainment veteran Don Gibson who produced Holiday Island Review.

TAPPING INTO TALENT -- The late Eugene (Rubberneck) Ming tap dances with, June Caisey at left, and Gwen Joell, members of the Holiday Island Review.