The Editor, Sir:

The Sounds and Pressure Committee commend Prime Minister Portia Simpson Miller and her staff at Jamaica House that this year honoured at the Prime Minister's Annual Independence Gala, 12 stalwarts of the Jamaican Recorded Music Industry that is celebrating 50 years of contribution to the country's cultural industry, 1956/1957 to 2006/2007.

The honorees - Derrick Harriott, Alton Ellis, Prince Buster, Sonia Pottinger, Joe Gibbs, Lloyd 'King Jammy' James, The Mighty Diamonds, Steelie and Clevie and Maxi Priest - have given great recognition, pleasure, and pride to Jamaicans both at home and throughout the diaspora, and indeed they have given a body of great music that has brought immense pleasure to the peoples of the world. They are, too, participants in an industry that has contributed significantly to Jamaica's GNP.

The event on the lawns of Jamaica House on Monday, August 7 was warmly received and thoroughly enjoyed by the large audience of children and adults.

We at Sounds and Pressure have several more events planned for this year and next. They include a weekly guided music heritage tour of downtown Kingston to begin in September, a two-day symposium at the University of the West Indies in November, performances in schools, a float parade in February 2007, and culminate May 2007 with a major concert depicting all eras of Jamaica's music heritage.

The Sounds and Pressure Committee - Kingsly Goodison, Roy Black, Dennis Howard, Colin Leslie, Colby Graham, Kamille Williams, Keith Lumsden, Herbie Miller, and Wayne Chen - thank all Jamaica for your support and hope to have more as we press forward.

I am, etc.,

JULIAN 'JINGLES' REYNOLDS

sounds_pressure@yahoo.com

Chairman

Sounds and Pressure Ltd.

17 Ruthven Road, Kingston 10