Howard Campbell, Gleaner Writer
Left: Kingsley Goodison (right) with Monte Blake of Merritone Music (left) and singer Mary Isaacs at the launch of the 'Tribute to the Greats 2007', held at the Lyme Key Restaurant, Chelsea Avenue, New Kingston, recently. - Peta-Gaye Clachar/Staff Photographer Winston Right: Bob Andyand Marcia Griffiths will be honoured at 'Tribute to the Greats 2007'. - Sill/Freelance Photographer
HAVING COME of age in an era many regard as the golden age of Jamaican popular music, Kingsley Goodison has always had a kinship with performers of the 1960s. Hence came his decision to start the 'Tribute to the Greats' awards show in 1998.
The annual event celebrates its 10th anniversary on August 11 at Curphey Place in St. Andrew, with singers Derrick Morgan, Strange Jah Cole, Bob Andy, Bunny Wailer, Marcia Griffiths among the honourees.
The achievements of influential roots group, Mystic Revelation of Rastafari, producer Sonia Pottinger, trumpeter David Madden, dance promoter Carl Percy, disc jockey Hol Plummer and the Merritone sound system, will also be recognised.
Almost 100 persons have been cited for their contribution to Jamaican music since the inception of 'Tribute to the Greats'. Its longevity has surprised its62-year-old founder.
"I always go in for the long haul with anything I do, but to be honest I wasn't expecting it to last so long," Goodison told The Gleaner recently.
Satisfaction from sharing
While his committee has handed out plaques to big names like Johnny Moore and Jackie Mittoo of The Skatalites, Goodison said he gets just as much satisfaction sharing the stage with unheralded names like Theophilus 'Snappin' Beckford, Raphael 'Count Mug' Dillon and musician/engineer Hedley Jones.
He said the 1999 show when former dance promoter Clifford 'Pampadoo' Mith was honoured, was special. "I called him two days before the show and he told me he couldn't make it because he was sick," Goodison recalled. "I convinced him, and when he showed up and saw his old friends he felt so good, he was straight as an arrow. That was a good moment."
Goodison is the younger brother of playwright/journalist Barbara Gloudon and respected musicologist/community worker Bunny Goodison. The Goodison family lived for several years in west Kingston, where sound system dances heralded the birth of Jamaican popular music.
Goodison remembers attending many of these dances, some of which were staged by pioneer 'sound' men Arthur 'Duke' Reid and Thomas 'The Great Sebastian' Wong there were other recreational pursuits, like playing Senior Cup cricket for Lucas, he said his love for music, especially ska and rocksteady from the 1960s when the Jamaican composers came into their own, never waned.
'Tribute to the Greats 2007' was launched on July 25 at the Lyme Key Restaurant, Chelsea Avenue, St. Andrew.
