Prime Minister Bruce Golding says the Government would like to get hold of a collection of Cecil 'Sonny' Bradshaw's private music recordings, to publish them as a means of preserving his legacy.

"We want to make sure that we have them published for the benefit of prosperity but also for the benefit of those Jamaicans who appreciate his music and want to ensure that that music will live on long after today," Golding revealed.

The prime minister, who was speaking at a thanksgiving service held for Bradshaw at the chapel at the University of the West Indies, Mona, on Monday, said his greatest regret was that the musician did not go into the studio more often.

Private recordings

"Too much of his music will have to reside in our memories, rather than on compact disc," he added, noting that there were private recordings of Bradshaw's performances which can be maintained.

He also spoke of Bradshaw as one who was meticulous and had a "stubborn insistence on standards and good music".

Golding declared there would be no "goodbye" because the legendary Bradshaw would never leave.

"Sonny Bradshaw will never leave us, the richness of his music, the enormity of his contributions and the memories of his ebullient personality will always be with us, not even death can take that away from us," he declared.

Former Prime Minister P.J. Patterson also sent his own words to the family, in a speech that was read by Radcliffe Butler. Patterson said the "dean of Jamaican music has departed" and has blown his last note.

Tributes came from Bradshaw's two children, Karen Bradshaw-Hall and Carey Bradshaw, wife Myrna Hague-Bradshaw, and others, including Dean Fraser, The Big Band, Dennis Rushton, Sparrow Martin and the Alpha Crew, Mary Isaacs-Black, Dwight Richards, Sereste Small as well as a dance by Neila Ebanks and Marlon Simms.

kimesha.walters@gleanerjm.com

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