Clement Dodd

Tribute in music will be paid tomorrow to Clement Dodd's as the musical pioneer is laid to rest following his death from a heart attack two weeks ago. The funeral services for Dodd takes place at the Holy Trinity Cathedral on North Street in Kingston with interment at Dovecot in St Catherine.

From as early as noon, it is expected that a crowd of musicians, singers, fans and the curious will descend on Holy Trinity to pay final respects to probably the last living legend of early Jamaica pop music.

Scheduled performances, starting at about 1.30 pm will be from 1940s child star Jimmy Tucker, jazz great Myrna Hague and current reggae star Bunny Brown, linking three generations of singers who have been connected to Dodd's excellence.

The former Alpha Boy's Band, now known as the Alphasonics, coached by drummer Sparrow Martin will provide live background music outside the Roman Catholic cathedral which the family chose more for its size rather that Dodd's religious faith.

The church service should follow about 2.30 pm after which Dodd's casket makes its final journey to Dovecot in what is expected to be one of the biggest motorcades ever seen in the city.

Widow Norma Dodd said that she wasn't disappointed that Dodd's body will not be interred at National Heroes Park, as had been suggested by some friends, after all.

"I prefer a more private spot, plus they wouldn't let me be buried beside him at Heroes Park," she explained.

Minister of Information Burchell Whiteman, said Monday that Jamaica House would stick by its decision, made a few years ago following the burial of Reggae star Dennis Brown at the park, that there would be no more burials there until plans are concluded on its future.

Artist Mallica "Kapo" Reynolds is also honoured there, along with Jamaica's seven national heroes.

Whiteman said that the prime minister appointed a committee on Tuesday including himself and the Ministers of Education and Culture and Local Government, to determine how Jamaica will honour its cultural icons in the future.

Mrs Dodd isn't concerned either about the fact that some of Studio One's former recording artistes may not think that her late husband deserves all the tributes based on their argument that he underpaid them.

"Whatever they say, I know he treated them good. Everybody got paid and the fact is that anything that he made from the business he would invest it right back in the company," she explained.

She confirmed that Dodd started his music career from his parents food shop turned liquor store, downtown. That his father, a building contractor, was responsible for the erection of Studio One at 13 Brentford Road after he bought the place; and that in the 1970s when they emigrated to New York in the midst of the violence and economic problems, his mother, took over the business on a reduced scale and saw that records were still pressed and sold.

The Dodds moved to New York in the late 1970s and opened the US version of Studio One on Fulton Street in Brooklyn. The shop still stands there operated by her three daughters - Sandra, Carol and Tanya, who will continue to run it.

Mrs Dodd insists that their move to New York was part compelled by the growing demand for Studio One music in North America as well as a long-time desire to step up to the "Big Apple". But, she also confirmed that she was held up and robbed twice at the office which contributed to the defection. When Dodd's mother died in 1997 they decided to return home and resume the business.

Through the over 40 years of their marraige, she had handled the business side of the company, while Dodd concentrated on the music.

The experience she picked up over the years will now guide her into the top position at Studio One as she carries on the work of her late husband.

"We just signed a new group from England, the Blackstones, and they have finished recording their debut album and there are a number of projects which he started which will be released during this year," she added.

Look out for new CDs from Jackie Mittoo, Junior Murvin and Otis Gayle among others scheduled to be released by the company this year, she says.

Trousers in Denim

Cream of the 'Crop'

Cheeky's World