Byron Lee joins Hall of Fame

CARIBBEAN cultural icon and music bandleader Byron Lee has added yet another award to his list of accolades.

Lee, leader of the internationally travelled and acclaimed Dragon-aires band, has been inducted in the first ever Air Jamaica Hall of Fame.

A notable absentee from Trinidad and Tobago’s just concluded 2003 Carnival celebration, Lee went in the Jamaican history annals along with John Pringle, Jamaica’s first Director of Tourism, as the first two inductees of the Air Jamaica’s Hall of Fame.

While Trinidad and Tobago was in high gear in Carnival 2K3 festivities, Byron Lee was on February 27 being awarded at a ceremony at the Kings House.

Gordon “Butch” Stewart, Chairman of Air Jamaica, presented Lee with his award.

In paying tribute to Byron Lee who was labelled ‘Legendary Cultural Ambassador’ Stewart said: “I can’t begin to tell you what Byron (Lee) has done for Jamaica’s culture and music industry.

Young people might only know him for bringing Soca and Carnival to Jamaica, but his contribution goes as far back as the Ska movement which was the forerunner to Reggae. He popularised and exported our culture to the region and beyond.”

Miami-based Tamika Bell, an Air Jamaica public relations representative, explained that the airline’s ‘Hall of Fame’ awards were being established to honour those exceptional men and women of Jamaica, who have gone beyond the call of duty, to aid in the development of the country’s tourism sector.

Byron Lee is at present preparing for this year’s Jamaica Carnival which comes off on the Easter weekend.