VETERAN REGGAE producer Clement 'Sir Coxsone' Dodd feels appreciated by his country, after he was awarded at the Prime Minister's Independence Gala on August 6.
"It's nice to be appreciated for the effort put out over the years," said Mr. Dodd.
Dodd was one of five persons honoured at the Prime Minister's Independence Gala. Honours were also bestowed on Frederick 'Toots' Hibbert, Beres Hammond and Byron Lee. The five people were given awards as a special mark of the nation's 40th anniversary celebrations of Independence. The gala is staged by the Ministry of Local Government each year.
Coxsone told The Gleaner that he has always he felt a great sense of responsibility as a producer and a person towards the development of the nation.
Mr. Dodd has also recieved other awards of a similar calibre. Among them are the Order of Distinction (OD), induction in the Jamaican Music Hall of Fame, a Tamika Award and has been appointed a 'Jambassador.'
While not envisioning ever getting such an award when he just started out, Mr. Dodd was quick to point out that he had yet to receive his full reward for his hard work over the years.
Christened Clement Seymour 'Sir Coxsone' Dodd, he has been described by some players in Jamaica's recording industry as one of the nation's 'foundation' producers.
He has been responsible for unearthing the talent of many Jamaican artistes at his Studio One headquarters at 13 Brentford Road. Among those he has helped to expose are Marcia Griffiths, Bob Andy, Delroy Wilson, Toots and the Maytals and The Wailers.
In addition, the veteran producer has been partially responsible for the development of the local sound system industry, with his sound 'Sir Coxsone Downbeat' playing the popular tunes of the day during the 1950s.
