Our Heritage - The accordion and the bamboo saxophone

The Jamaica Music Museum (JMM) traces the stages of Jamaica music development. Today, we bring you two of the prized collections of the museum - the accordion and the bamboo saxophone.

The accordion, also called flutina, is as identifiable with Argentinean tango, as the rumba box is with Jamaican mento.

This instrument has a keyboard on one side and buttons on the other, (some have buttons on both sides) and a middle section with a billow which is filled with air as each end of the instrument is pulled and pushed from side to side, causing expansions and contractions that force the air past metal reeds to create sound.

The provenance of the accordion in the collection of the JMM is one of distinguished pedigree.

Adina edwards

The Italian-made 'Reno' (pictured) of carmine and ruby shades on shiny, varnished hard-shell exterior body with red and tan fibre billow, belonged to the late blind singer, Adina Edwards.

For over a decade, between the 1960s and 1970s, she occupied the corner at King Street and Barry Street, where she sang in a rich mezzo-soprano voice, while accompanying herself on the instrument.

She sang a repertoire of gospel songs such as the Precious Lord, Just A Closer Walk With Thee, Love Walks With Me and He Touched Me and was extremely popular with passers-by, some of whom went out of their way just to spend a few minutes listening to her sing and play.

The instrument's case was placed on the ground next to her feet so those who cared could leave a donation. In mid 1970s, Edwards was approached by the popular entertainment personality, Tommy Cowan, with an offer to manage and produce her. As the saying goes: the rest is history. Under Cowan's guidance, Edwards moved from street singer to hitmaker and stage performer.

Prior to that, she appeared on the very popular annual charity show at the Regal Theatre, 'Nuggets for the Needy', but under Cowan's management she became an anticipated feature on various holiday morning shows not only in the Corporate Area, but also across the island. Edwards' cover of the Bee Gees song, Don't Forget to Remember was a chart topper and a big success for her.

Meanwhile, another prized item in the collection of the JMM, is one of Sugar Belly's bamboo saxophones.

With this instrument, both the creative ingenuity of the Jamaican mindset and musical accomplishment are on display. The first registers how, with very little resources and a lack of basic opportunities, the 'ordinary' citizen creates for themselves tools and working situations that many times elevate the trade/art and the individual to new heights. Second, with this creation, Sugar Belly, whose real name was Wilfred Walker, became a star.

Pleasurable moments

He performed folk (Brown Skin Gal), mento (Rucumbine), meringue (Sugar Meringue) and standard material such as Stranger On The Shore on his bamboo saxophones, creating not only pleasurable moments for his listeners, but also for himself a broad fan base, reasonable financial success and a musical legacy that is as inspirational on its own, as it provides motivation to others in the same social situation who may wish to create their own opportunities.

The bamboo saxophone is a creolised version of the algatha, a conical Sudanese instrument to which, in all likeliness, Sugar Belly had never previously been exposed.

- Institute of Jamaica

The accordion