Winston Riley lauded

Simone Morgan

Monday, February 06, 2012

“WINSTON Riley was never honoured for his contribution to the music industry and to Jamaica. And, although he is gone, I do hope that he will be given a national honour this year, being Jamaica’s 50th anniversary,” said Olivia ‘Babsy’ Grange, opposition spokesperson for culture, youth and sports.

Grange was speaking at the Holy Trinity Cathedral in Kingston at the thanksgiving service for the late musician Winston ‘Dragon’ Riley on Saturday.

In her remembrance, she also spoke about Riley’s intention of regrouping The Techniques, the 1960s reggae/rocksteady group of which he was a member.

“He also had dreams to build a music museum on Orange Street where he said he would place the faces of all the people who had contributed to his success. He was a genuine role model for the people of West Kingston,” Grange said.

Before paying tribute in song, Riley’s daughter, Jodian, described her father as a hero to reggae, as his contribution to the music was well received internationally.

“He was a perfectionist and could easily be considered as one of the most influential producers, who only did good reggae music,” said a tearful Jahasama, another of his 29 children.

Among those who turned out to show their respects singer George Nooks, Lone Ranger, Tommy Cowan and Derrick Morgan.

Interment followed in the Dovecot Memorial Park in St Catherine.

On November 1, 2011, Riley was shot in the head at his St Andrew home. After being in a coma for more than a month, Riley succumbed to his injures on January 19.

The late musican was plagued by several unfortunate incidents in recent times. His recording studio located on Orange Street in downtown Kingston was firebombed by thugs in 2009. He was shot in August of last year and later stabbed five times in September.

Riley, along with Slim Smith, Frankylyn White and Frederick Waite, formed The Techniques group while there were still in high school. They were regular performers at former Prime Minister Edward Seaga’s Chocomo Lawn club and released their first single called No One in 1963.

Years later, Riley formed his own Techniques record label and produced the late General Echo’s The Slackest album on his Techniques label in 1979. He was also instrumental in the development of the careers of Sister Nancy, Buju Banton, Cutty Ranks, Lone Ranger, and Frankie Paul.