Left: The legendary Byron Lee in performance earlier this year. Right: A 1969 photograph of Prince Buster.
File photos
Krista Henry, Staff Reporter
Landmarks in the music industry were given the respect due to them last Saturday at Curphey Place at King Omar's Promotion's 'Tribute to the Greats'. Although it was a rainy night, patrons still came out in their numbers to show their respect at the event's ninth anniversary.
Tribute to the Greats is, as Kingsley Goodison, chairman of King Omar's Promotions, stated "to honour the true people of the forgotten eras". The Caribbean is now celebrating fifty years of recording our own music. The first set of awards issued for the night were given to greats in the field of promotions and sound system operations. Slyvin Morris, the 'original scientist' as he is fondly known is a legendary studio engineer and
producer.
He has worked with greats such as Third World, Burning Spears and Bunny Wailer and is still giving dedicated service to Bryon Lee and the Dragonaires. In this category, sound system operator Aston Davis was also awarded, having been one of the pioneer operators in the business.
Part
two
The second category of awards was the regional awards, acknow-ledging the work of our Caribbean colleagues. Jackie Opel, also known as Dalton Richards from Barbados was awarded. He was a pioneer in mixing ska with calypso. Trinidadian Lord Laro who was present to accept his award, has performed all over the world. Lord Laro is known for his versatility, singing everything from country to children's songs. Lord Laro has an impressive 5 LP's, ten 45's and seventy recordings. He was the first performer to sing reggae in a calypso setting at Trinidad's carnival. Other Trinidadians awarded were Kenneth Patrick, a.k.a 'Lord Creator' and Lynn Tate.
Phil Calendar from Panama came to Jamaica and earned his way as a drummer. He was awarded for being one of the top drummers to ever come out of Studio One. Monty Blake accepted the award for Bryon Lee and the Dragonaires, who were off doing a show. Bryon Lee has been managing his band for fifty years.
One of the most honoured awardees for the night was Hedley Jones. Mr. Jones has contributed over sixty years to the music industry. A self-taught musician, he built the first wood electric guitar. He also built and demonstrated the first traffic lights in Kingston and the monumental Studio One and for ten years served as the head of the Jamaica Federation of Musicians.
Closing
the show
The last award for the night went to Sonny Bradshaw, who unfortunately was not present to accept his award. Sonny Bradshaw has been putting on the Ocho Rios jazz festival for sixteen years.
After the awards were handed out it was time to party. Lord Laro gave a first rate performance of his songs Foreign Press and Gospel Train. Prince Buster and Nina Soul also gave moving performances.
See full coverage of Fully Loaded and THE STAR's Dutty Wine contest
on Wednesday.
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