Entertainment

Heroes for 'Tribute To The Great'

By GERMAINE SMITH, Staff Reporter

SOME OF REGGAE'S more quiet yet acclaimed heroes will be showered with honours at this month's staging of the Tribute To The Greats show.

Two political leaders will be in the lot as well: Prime Minister Patterson, and former Opposition Leader Edward Seaga.

The Prime Minister will be honoured for his role as manager of the Skatalites Band back in the 1960s, while Mr. Seaga will be recognised for his contributions to record manufacturing, distribution, and music production.

The announcements were made at the launch of the now eight-year-old event earlier this week at Pamella's Restaurant and Lounge on Burlington avenue in St. Andrew.

Honoured

The launch lacked the glitz and glamour usually associated with such great events, but made up in the sincerity of sentiment towards the acclaimed players in the reggae business, who in some way, have escaped mainstream prominence.

"Many of those names we honoured before now were hardly recognised until this show brought them out," stated Keith Goodison, one of the show's promoters. "It means much when people honour you, but it means so much more when your peers do the honouring," he added.

This year's list of names fits into three categories: the Lifetime Achievement Awards, the Immortal Awards and the Pioneer Awards.

The Prime Minister and Mr. Seaga will receive the Lifetime Achievement Awards.

Boris Gardener and Jackie Jackson will receive the Immortal Awards for their achievements as musicians over the years, while for the Pioneer Awards, Neville Willoughby, Densil Laing, and Alerth Bedasse will share honours.

Bedasse, who is now 77, was visibly elated for being honoured for his achievements in indigenous music (mento and calypso).

"They say kings don't have honours at home and it is true, but our music has left here and has done well overseas for us," he commented.

One testament to this he added, was the unauthorised use of his music by so many foreign companies, a battle he said he is fighting in court right now.