THE annual Tribute to the Greats show was officially endorsed as a Jamaica 50 event at its launch at Cuddy’z Sports Bar in New Kingston, St Andrew, on Monday evening.

The show — now in its 15th year — is scheduled for Curphey Place in St Andrew on Saturday, July 28.

The endorsement came from Dr Omar Davies, Minister of Transport, Works and Housing, who was a ‘stand in’ for the Minister of Culture, Lisa Hanna, who “was unavoidably absent”.

Dr Davies went on to laud the event’s promoter, Kingsley Goodison, for his tireless effort in celebrating unsung music industry personalities.

“So Kingsley [Goodison] is playing a critical role. Without any official endorsement, without government support, he was able to promote and continues to promote, what must be one of our most significant achievements. In 50 years, the body of music that has been produced and if you look at the range of artistes out of the different studios, this is something of which this country should be proud,” Minister Davies told the small gathering.

He was particularly impressed with the list of awardees and made reference to Australian Graeme Goodall, who came to Jamaica in 1955, to work with RJR as a radio engineer and later became recording engineer.

“I must confess, that which excites me most is the Australian connection. The Australian connection fascinating,” he said.

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; Australian Graeme Goodall, sound engineer at Federal Records for several years; 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; The Caribs band and videographer Jose Walton.