Seven honoured at 'Tribute to the Greats' 13

Mel Cooke, Gleaner Writer

Before the night's honourees received their plaques at Curphey Place on Saturday night, Keith Goodison put the contribution of those receiving the awards and the person staging the function into an impressive time frame.

He said that promoter Kingsley 'King Omar' Goodison had been in the music business for over 40 years, while combined, the awardees at Tribute to the Greats 2010 have three centuries of involvement in Jamaican music. And the Swallowfield, St Andrew, venue was an old stamping ground for many of them, as Tony Gregory noted in his performance after the awards had been handed out.

For his part, Kingsley Goodison said, "I am happy to see over the 13 years over 130 unsung heroes. I think tonight is a special one."

It was the citations read by Norma Bell and recipients' replies made with a decided lack of bombast which were the most interesting. The night's first recipient, though, Denton Henry, was not present to collect his award for audio engineering and maintenance of noted sound systems in his electronics career exceeding four decades. Among the sound systems whose amplifiers he has kept going are Afrique, Gemini, Stone Love, Grotto Swing and Inner City.

Star Cricketers

Neville Reid cut a trim figure which spoke to his athletic roots as an opening batsman for Boys' Town in the 1960s and 1970s. However, he was honoured on Friday night not for taking on bowlers at their freshest, but promoting dances in the Corporate Area (including Curphey Place) and also putting on events in New York after he migrated.

Gladstone 'Gladdy' Parker was behind Afrique's control tower before the awards began, playing music for the growing audience which quickly occupied all the seating provided with some overspill. He stepped forward to collect his award for Wild Bunch Disco's 47 years in music, which will be officially celebrated at the Post Gemini Birthday Bash in Wickie Wackie on August 15.

Herman Sang's award was collected on his behalf by fellow Jiving Junior Derrick Harriott. It was noted that Sang, who lives in Canada, was one of the earliest Chinese-Jamaicans involved as a performer in Jamaican music.

Journalist awarded

Julian 'Jingles' Reynolds was awarded for his services to music through journalism, in a career that started when he was invited by then Gleaner editor, Theodore Sealy, to try out for a reporter position, after making an impression with his short story submissions. Reynolds joined The Gleaner in 1967, left within a year because of a disagreement but was soon back as a freelancer. He racked up an impressive record of articles and columns before his 20th birthday, then left Jamaica in 1972 to pursue film-making. His journalism pursuits continued while he was abroad.

It is believed that Reynolds wrote the first feature article on The Wailers, which was published in The Weekend STAR.

King Omar presented Tony Gregory's award, Bell reading a music chronology which Gregory's youthful appearance. Gregory won first prize in the Vere Johns Opportunity Hour in 1957, turned professional a year later and joined Byron Lee and the Dragonaires as lead vocalist in 1960. He started to record with Studio One in 1964, his debut album Tony Gregory Sings coming out four years later. His huge Gypsy Girl hit came out two decades after.

Gregory gave the evening's most extensive reply. "The feeling I have this evening is beyond explanation," Gregory said. He recalled going to Alpha at 10 years old and said "This, for me, was the first award and I am grateful." He won his first prize at the Carib, after singing Over The Rainbow in the break. That box of Cadbury's chocolates "opened my eyes to the possibilities".

"It has been a long journey. It has not been easy," Gregory said. "I will treasure this 'til the day I die. This is not for me, it is for the people who strive to better themselves musically in Jamaica."

Bell advised those who would like to know all about Jimmy James to read last Tuesday's Gleaner, giving a synopsis of his career from being with The Vagabonds, migrating to England in the post-Independence period and hitting it really big in 1976 with I'll Go Where The Music Takes Me. James landed a show every Tuesday night at the Marquee Club, counted Jimi Hendrix and Rod Stewart among his musical mates, and these days is still busy with the Bourne Leisure chain of Holiday Resorts (Britain's largest) and ships for P&O Cruise Lines.

James and Gregory were the two recipients to perform - and excellently so.