Dennis Howard (left) and Julian 'Jingles' Reynolds of the Sounds and Pressure Committee with Tourism Minister Aloun Assamba at the launch of the Downtown Kingston Reggae Music Heritage Tour on Tuesday. - Winston Sill/Freelance hotographer

Daviot Kelly, Staff Reporter

The music of Jamaica has always brought the island much acclaim but the Sounds and Pressure Committee is seeking to use the music to bring even more than that; they are aiming for the redevelopment of downtown Kingston.

The committee launched its Reggae Music Heritage Tour at the Kaieteure Restaurant in the Jamaica Conference Centre. The tour will be offered on Tuesdays and Wednesdays starting from the Courtleigh Hotel and Suites at 10:30 a.m. The bus heads on to Orange Street, North Parade and North Street - areas that are instrumental in the forming of Jamaica's music.

Sites of note on the tour include Nanny's Corner at Beeston Street and Love Lane, the origin ofStudio One; 45 Charles Street, Sir Coxsone's Music City, and 135 Orange Street, better known as Big Yard, the home of Dennis Brown.

The scene at the restaurant was one of photos depicting old-timers of Jamaican music, including Roy Shirley, The Jamaicans and Rico Rodriguez. Hits of yesteryear played softly through speakers as guests who had made it for the inaugural tour came back.

'Thumbs up' to the tour

Chairman of the Sounds and Pressure committee, Julian 'Jingles' Reynolds, was nostalgic as he remembered the days when Kingston was the hub of activity and the music was vibrant. One by one, persons associated with downtown Kingston gave their 'thumbs up' to the tour.

Principal director in the Ministry of Tourism, Syd Bartley, said it was appropriate that the tour should be established this year as 2007 marks seven major celebrations. Among them is the 50th anniversary of recorded music, 45th anniversary of Jamaica's independence and the 200th anniversary of the abolition of the trans-Atlantic slave trade.

Tourism Minister Aloun Assamba felt the tour would be the catalyst for the development long planned but never realised. Morin Seymour of the Kingston Restoration Company applauded the vision of the committee and pledged his organisation's full support.

Guests included Kingsley Goodison, Strangejah Cole, Bob Andy, Patrick Wong, Olivia 'Babsy' Grange, Charmaine Limonious, Rev. Jim Parkes, Dennis Howard, and Colin Leslie.