Jamaica Music 50 launched

Jamaica Music 50 was launched last week during Reggae Sumfest in Montego Bay. It entails a series of events looking at the evolution of Jamaican popular music since the country's independence from Britain in 1962.

Music-industry veteran, Maxine Stowe, is spearheading Jamaica Music 50, which is expected to start on January 1. She said the formative years of reggae music will be explored in depth.

"We plan to look at the transformation of making music for the sound systems to making music for the consumer and the recording industry," Stowe explained.

The 1962-64 period was pivotal. Pioneer producers Arthur 'Duke' Reid and Clement 'Coxsone' Dodd were rivals who operated the Trojan and Downbeat sound systems, respectively.

They gradually moved into music production by establishing the Treasure Isle and Studio One labels, which dominated the local music scene for most of the 1960s.

Reid and Dodd's success sparked a wave of independent producers, which included Prince Buster, Lee 'Scratch' Perry and Bunny Lee. Stowe said forums to educate artistes on copyright issues and the importance of protecting their catalogues will also be part of the Jamaica Music 50 itinerary.

Singer/songwriter Bunny Wailer, and businessmen Junior Lincoln and Wayne Chen, are also involved in the Jamaica Music 50 events.