Mel Cooke, Freelance Writer

Bob Andy is described in the 'Tribute to the Greats' magazine as "One of the most gifted singer-songwriters in the annals of Jamaican popular music". - Winston Sill/Freelance Writer

WHEN DETAILS of 'Tribute to the Greats 2007' were presented at Lyme Key, Chelsea Avenue, New Kingston, recently, there was an addition to the expected announcement of the line-up of performers.

Organiser of the concert, Kingsley 'King Omar' Goodison, presented a 'Tribute to the Greats' magazine, which celebrates the 10th anniversary of the combination of an awards show and concert.

This year's staging is at the customary venue, Curphey Place, Swallowfield, on Saturday, August 11, and among the honourees are Strange Jah Cole, Derrick Morgan and Merritone Music.

At the launch, Goodison said how happy he was with the publication and thanked contributing writers Howard Campbell, Clinton Hutton, Keith Goodison and Julian Reynolds, as well as the 28-page magazine's designer Anya Gloudon, who also did the layout.

Among the persons who are featured are 2007 honourees Bob Andy, Bunny Wailer and Merritone Music. About Andy, Campbell writes: "Without a doubt, Bob Andy is one of the most gifted singer/songwriters in the annals of Jamaican popular music", while he terms Bunny Wailer as the 'enigmatic member' of The Wailers.

The birth of promoters

HUTTON

Hutton outlines the significance of the 18 fifth Street, Trench Town, base of Mortimer Planno, where "artistes such as Higgs and Wilson and Eddie, Toots and the Maytals, The Jiving Juniors, The Wailers, The Melodians, Ken Boothe, John Holt, Cluet Johnson and Roland Alphanso, among others, performed." And Keith Goodison, in exploring 'Dancehall Promoters and Jamaican Popular Music', writes: "The sound system operators relied heavily on the popularity of known figures in their communities to become dance promoters. Among the outstanding promoters are Clifford 'Pompadoo' Smith, Raphael 'Count Mug' Dillon (the High Priest) and his partner Harry Quashie (The Bishop), and Kenneth 'Lord Baskin' Scarlet. These promoters had such an impact that dates were set aside for their promotions and very few would offer an on those specified dates."

Hutton writes on: 'Count Machuki, King Stitt and Daddy U-Roy: the Pioneering Triumvirate Icons of Dancehall Music.' Another of Campbell's many articles is on 'Ken Khouri and Edward Seaga' and there is a pictoral flashback on previous 'Tribute to the Great' concerts, with the names of all the honourees from 1998 to 2006.

Among the outlets for the magazine is Derrick Harriott's record store in Twin Gates Plaza, Constant Spring Road, St. Andrew.