- Norman Grindley/Staff Photographer
Clement 'Sir Coxsone' Dodd accepts his gold Musgrave medal from Dr. Barry Chevannes.
Tanya Batson, Staff Reporter
CLEMENT 'SIR Coxsone' Dodd O.D., added another feather to his already prestigious cap when he received a gold Musgrave medal for his contribution to music last Wednesday.
Sir Coxsone is leaving a producer's legend in his wake. The 70-year-old has been lauded with partial responsibility for the development of Jamaican music. His role was in two parts, first with his sound system (Downbeat), an integral part of Jamaica's music development and later by being one of the first producers to start recording Jamaican music.
The founder of Studio One has been involved with music since his stint as a migrant labourer, when he used to import records to be played in his sound system. Earning the Jamaica Order of Distinction in 1991, Dodd has produced artistes such as Bob Marley, Marcia Griffiths, Bob Andy, Peter Tosh, Delroy Wilson and Alton Ellis, along with numerous others.
In August of this year, Dodd was given a special award, marking Jamaica's 40th year of Independence, for his contribution to Jamaican music. Four musicians, Marcia Griffiths, Frederick 'Toots' Hibbert, Byron Lee and Beres Hammond were also awarded on that occasion.
The Musgrave medals are annually awarded by the Institute of Jamaica. The medals, first struck in 1889, features the likeness of Sir Anthony Musgrave, the founder of the institute. This year 12 awards were given out.
Coxsone was one of the two gold medalists for 2002. Artist David 'Jack' Pottinger received the other. Pottinger, at 91 years old still stands tall (literally) in the field of art. The distinguished gentleman made his way to the stage to receive his just desserts on Wednesday. Pottinger is one of the artists responsible for defining nationalist art in Jamaica. His major subjects are the streets, lanes, sidewalks and backyards of Old Kingston.
Six silver medals were given out in various fields. The Cari-Folk Singers received the award for their contribution to music. The group, which has been around for 29 years, currently has a repertoire of over 350 songs in several Jamaican folk forms including dinki mini, revival, kumina, nigh night and mento.
Two educators also received silver awards. Brian Heap received his for his contribution to drama education and Joan Tucker earned her silver Musgrave for her efforts in music education. Heap, who has dual nationality with Jamaica and England, is a Staff Tutor in Drama at the Phillip Sherlock Centre for the Creative Arts, University of the West Indies, Mona. Although he received his first Bachelors degree (honours) in Economic History, Heap is now focused on drama and education. He co-authored Future Positive: Educating Children in Zambia in a time for HIV/AIDS through Process Drama. Joan Tucker is a senior lecturer in Music Education and head of the Institute of Education, University of the West Indies, Mona.
Another silver award went to the arts. Barrington Moncrieffe received an award for his contribution to dance. Moncrieffe is one of the founding members of the National Dance Theatre Company (NDTC). Moncrieffe has been senior instructor at several colleges including his alma mater, The Edna Manley College for the Visual and Performing Arts; the Oberlin College, Ohio; and the Institute of Dance, Venezuela. Moncreiffe has also choreographed productions such as Arawak Gold and Brukkins.
The final two silver awards went to architecture (Herbert Repole C.D) and Science (Arnoldo Ventura C.D). This year Repole received the Order of Distinction, Commander Class for professional creativity in the field of architecture. The principal and Chief Executive Officer of Repole Architects, Repole was elected to erect monuments to three national heroes: The Right Excellent Paul Bogle and George William Gordon (1965) and the Right Honourable Norman Manley (1970).
Ventura is special advisor to the Prime Minister of Jamaica on Science and Technology. He also chairs the Steering Committee of the National Science and Technology and is the Vice President for Latin America and the Caribbean on the United Nations Commission on Science and Technology.
Three bronze medals were awarded, two in the field of music and the other in art. David Reid and Marilyn Brice-McDonald received the awards for their work in music. Intuitive artist Leonard Daley, also known as 'Dadda' or 'Bredda Len' copped the final bronze. Chantal Patrice Ononaiwu received the Youth Musgrave Award for her work in the field of law.
