THE life and music of one of reggae's unheralded pioneers is the focus of 'Justin Hinds at 70', a symposium scheduled for the Seville Great House in St Ann on August 5. It is inspired by a project from American writer and disc jockey Michael Kuelker.

Kuelker, who is from Illinois, will be one of the speakers at the event which is endorsed by the St Ann Heritage Foundation. Hinds, who died in 2005, was a St Ann native best known for the 1963 hit song, Carry Go Bring Come.

Kuelker recently completed a 9,000-word exposé on Hinds. According to Kuelker, it includes contributions from family, friends and musicians "sharing intriguing memories and recollections of Justin".

Hinds and his group, the Dominoes, recorded Carry Go Bring Come for producer Arthur 'Duke' Reid. It was a massive hit in Jamaica and earned him a solid fan base throughout Europe.

Among Hinds' admirers was Rolling Stones guitarist Keith Richards, who produced several songs by the singer and his backup singers in his hometown of rural Steer Town. Those songs were compiled for the Wingless Angels albums.