Mr Vegas has been elevated to the status of 'closer' of dancehall stage shows in recent months as traditional dancehall closers like Beenie Man and Bounty Killer continue to get stymied in their attempt to gain United States work permits.

The I Am Blessed singjay closed two major events in New York and Boston recently, bringing an effective climax to shows that boasted big name acts such as Demarco, Khago, Laza Morgan and I Wayne.

It showed that after 16 years in the business, Mr Vegas is finally getting the respect he deserves.

Last Thursday, he closed the Strictly the Best concert at the BB King club in New York.

Hitting the stage at a few minutes before 4 a.m., he worked the crowd into a frenzy with a medley of his big hits, Heads High, Nuh Friend From Dem, and Sucky Ducky.

Afterwards, he brought a white male patron onstage and asked him to sing Bob Marley's Buffalo Soldier and the man brought the house down with his twangy American accent.

But the best was yet to come, Mr Vegas then asked the man to skank to Buju Banton'sI Wanna Be Loved and the crowd hollered and hooted at his awkward attempt. Then Mr Vegas then instructed one of his Bruk It Down dancers to teach the young man how to dance Jamaican, and there was near pandemonium inside the club as the man put on a series of moves that can, at best, be described as ludicrous.

But the audience thoroughly enjoyed itself, and one woman laughed until tears came to her eyes.

Three weeks ago, the singjay also closed a major concert in Boston, peppering his performance using classic songs such as Murder She Wrote and Nardo Ranks' Dem a Bleach, Buju Banton's Driver and even sang Tracy Chapman's classic Baby Can I Hold You during his hour-long performance.