LLOYD 'Mohair Slim' Dewar, Australian presenter/DJ and documentarian, is in Jamaica for Tribute to the Greats show slated for Curphey Place, St Andrew, this evening.

Tributes to the Great — a Jamaica 50 endorsed event — recognises persons who have made a contribution to the island's music industry.

The Melbourne-based Dewar will be collecting an award on behalf of his friend drummer Lowell Morris of The Caribs band. The band's other two Aussie musicians — keyboardist Peter Stoddart and guitarist Dennis Sindrey will also be honoured. All three came to Kingston in November of 1958 and added a different flavour to the city's vibrant music scene.

Stoddart, now 78, still lives in Jamaica with his wife, Rilla.

Graeme Goodall, another Australian, came to Jamaica in 1955 to help set up RJR's broadcast system will also be honoured.

"Lowell [Morris] is unable to travel to Tribute to the Greats, so I will be coming to accept on his behalf if that is OK. It is a tremendous event giving overdue respect to so many artistes," Dewar said.

"I have been working on a documentary on The Caribs for the last five years. I am good friends with Graeme Goodall, Dennis Sindrey, Peter Stoddart and Lowell Morris, who lives in Melbourne."

The Caribs were formed in Australia. However, in 1958 their manager — Max Wildman — was offered a hotel job in Jamaica and the three group members came with him.

The Caribs were joined by bass player Lloyd Brevett — who later became part of the Skatalites — and other local musicians.

The Carib's played on Jackie Edwards' Tell Me Darling and Laurel Aitken's Boggie In My Bones.

The other members of the Tribute To The Greats Class of 2012 includes Thom Bell, the Jamaica-born songwriter/producer/arranger who worked with American soul groups like the Delfonics, Spinners and Stylistics; Ronnie Nasralla; deejay Big Youth; keyboardist Gladstone Anderson; Beverley Kelso, an original member of the Wailers; singer Jackie Estick; sound system operator Dexter 'Ska Professor' Campbell; dance promoter Ronald Dougal; and videographer Jose Walton.