Byron Lee is celebrating his 50th year in the music industry. - PHOTO BY CLAUDINE HOUSEN/STAFF PHOTOGRAPHER
Byron Lee and the Dragonaires will be celebrating their fiftieth anniversary with a benefit concert at Morgan's Harbour on March 30, at 6:00 p.m. to 9:00 p.m. to support the growth and development of Jamaican arts. The funds will go to the National Gallery of Jamaica.
Here Byron Lee discusses the concert and his music with Dr. Jonathan Greenland of the National Gallery of Jamaica.
Byron Lee, why are you doing this concert?
Well, this is our fiftieth anniversary year. Byron Lee and the Dragonaires are an ensemble of 14 musicians who have been together a long time. In fact, we're the longest-running band around. And so we decided to do some charitable events to celebrate. Then one day Lois Sherwood came to us and asked us if we would do a concert in benefit of the National Gallery. It is a dream of hers to create a coffee shop and make it a more comfortable place for the visitors, as well as bring in more children to the gallery who have never seen the art. And so I said, "OK, you are the first one first come first served!" And so we shall be performing at this dinner and dance on March 30 at Morgan's Harbour Hotel.
Who or what is your greatest influence?
This goes a long way back. I was always fascinated with Ray Charles. Then there were the great Rhythm and Blues singers like Sam Cook and Ben E. King. You know, I brought all these artistes to Jamaica in the early days. I was also influenced by Bob Marley.
Why Ray Charles?
His was a big band. And I was an emerging band and I wanted to copy him with his big horn section. There were other bands around but he was the one. I was his biggest admirer. In fact, I had the opportunity to open his concert at the stadium in 1960 when he came to Jamaica. He had trombones, trumpets, saxophones, and a great white piano. I'll never forget it. I was honoured. We were a young band, nobody knew us then, and I was the opening act for the Ray Charles concert!
No one knew you in 1960?
No, but they started to know us soon enough. Especially after we appeared in the James Bond film Dr. No down at Morgan's Harbour. I think it was the first James Bond film and the producers came down here on a hope and a prayer. It was like a pilot. They had no idea it would become the biggest film series the world has ever seen. I was fortunate enough to have had a role when the band appeared at Morgan's Harbour. It's the exact same place where we're going to play on March 30. When Lois Sherwood and I went down to scout the place I showed her the spot that the band had played. It's a long time ago now, and Morgan's Harbour has been refurbished, and the bar is where the bandstand used to be. The evening of March 30 will be like opening a new memory, in honour of our fiftieth anniversary and the National Gallery of Jamaica.
I had no idea you were in
'Dr. No'.
You should get a copy of it! But you won't recognise me, I was young and handsome then. The guest artiste at the event on March 30 will be Keith Lyn. We co-wrote many songs together, including Portrait of my Love. When Carol Crawford, the first Jamaican to win the Miss World competition, was asked at the London Palladium what she wanted to hear, she said: "Portrait of my Love by Byron Lee and the Dragonaires." That's what made it famous. Keith Lyn also appears on the Dr. No soundtrack. He is singing 'Three Blind Mice' when the three men are walking up King Street trying to kill James Bond, he is also in the party scene at Morgan's Harbour and it was him singing 'Under the Mango Tree' in that memorable scene when Ursula Andress emerged from the water in St. Ann's Bay. What we're doing at the function is we are going back in time. The title of that
night should be: Music that memories are made of. We're going to take all our friends back to the late fifties and sixties..
.
What kind of songs will you be playing?
Some ska, some soca, some reggae, calypso, rock steady, and some Latin music. It is music that memories are made of. It?s for everyone who wants to remember. You see, we?ve performed at so many important occasions in people?s lives: graduations, birthdays, sweet 16?s, anniversaries, marriages ... if you think of it, we?ve celebrated so many of the best memories.
What?s the best music you have performed?
Our big hits are ?Jamaica Ska?, ?Tiny Whiney? and ?Soca Butterfly?. But we have a new song called ?The Dentist? that we shall be introducing at the Morgan?s Harbour event.
Do you like the new music coming out of Jamaica?
Well, what can I say. I?ve been through 50 years, through every evolution of music in Jamaica. I was there for the ska, the rock steady, the reggae, the dance hall, and now hip hop. What I?d like to say is that even though some of the music is not quite to my taste, we have to appreciate that this generation understands and relates to it. If we can understand them and if we can get them to understand us, then we will increase knowledge. But I will say this: some of the music of today lacks the complete composition of the brass section, the bass line, the guitar and voice that I grew up with. As for the lyrical content, it?s OK, but I?m not too fond of the lyrics. But the beat is what lives on. As long as people dance to Byron Lee and the Dragonaires then I have accomplished my mission. And we have been doing that for fifty years. The only ones ahead of us are the Rolling Stones. They are listed in the Guinness Book of Records as the longest running band. However, when I go to London in May they have asked me to bring proof that we were founded in 1956 and we have never stopped. So we should be walking back in June with the record for the longest running band in the world!
Where is your favourite place in Jamaica?
Jamaica! I love every part of Jamaica. But I have a soft spot for Ocho Rios. I used to play there in the early days when the band was not known, at a club named Club Maracas. It was in a place opposite Turtle Tower and Island Village. We used to play there every Wednesday and Sunday for the locals and the tourists. That?s how we got known.
Thank you very much Byron Lee.
I?d like to say to everyone that they should come out and enjoy themselves. It is a worthy cause, and we?d like everyone to come and celebrate our Fiftieth Anniversary with us. So far we?ve done a charity performance for the Hart Trust , the second is for the National Gallery and then there is a third one in July for the Aids Foundation. Don?t forget: it will be the Music that Memories are Made of!
The fundraising dinner and dance takes place at Morgan's Harbour Hotel on March 30, 2006 at 6:00 p.m. Tickets cost $3,500 and are available at 922-1561 or email us at natgalja@cwjamaica.com. This event is made possible through the support of BWIA and Red Stripe.
