Vernon 'Mullo' Moller's legacy added to National Collection

Jamaica has had many great musicians and Vernon 'Von Mullo' Moller is no exception. After Don Drummond, 'Mullo', along with Rico Rodriquez, is regarded among Jamaica's best trombonists.

Seeing the need to preserve his legacy and to keep his memory alive in the hearts of the Jamaican people, the family of the late Vernon Moller made a contribution of his trombone, manuscript, and photographs to the National Collection of the Jamaica Music Museum (JaMM).

His daughters, Noella Moller and Donna Moller-Lyn, and son Everett Moller handed over the musical artefacts at the Institute of Jamaica (IOJ) on April 9, in the IOJ Council Chamber.

"We believe that the Jamaica Music Museum is an excellent forum through which Jamaica's rich musical legacy can be preserved for generations to come, and (is) also a way to immortalise those musicians who paved the way for what we now know as Jamaican music," said Donna Moller-Lyn, his eldest daughter.

Important gift

Herbie Miller, director/curator at JaMM said, "Donations such as these go a far way in educating our people and conveying to our international visitors the importance of such gifts in animating the life of Jamaica's rich cultural heritage."

He also added that Moller's legacy will allow present and future generations to appreciate the contribution he has made to nation building, identity, and human possibilities.

An alumnus of the Alpha Boys' School, after graduating in the 1940s, 'Mullo' was prepared to become a member of George Moxey's band. He later joined the venerated Eric Deans Orchestra before moving on to Roy Coburn's Blue Flames Orchestra.

After living and performing for 15 years in Nassau and Freeport in The Bahamas, he returned in the 1960s at the height of the ska revolution and joined Byron Lee and the Dragonaires, with whom he toured and recorded for many years.

He also worked with producer Prince Buster, for whom he backed artistes such as Toots and the Maytals. 'Mullo' migrated to the United States (US), living in Avon, Massachusetts, where, because of respiratory problems, he switched to the string bass. He died in the US in 1999.