KINGSTON, Jamaica – Former Prime Minister Edward Seaga’s four-CD box set, Origins of Jamaican Music, will be launched by Jamaican-owned, New York-based VP Records tonight, Friday, October 19 at the Jamaica Pegasus Hotel, New Kingston.

The launch will feature a strong line-up of artistes including: the Dragonaires, Lloyd Parkes and We the People band, Lovindeer, Lady Saw, Ernie Smith, Tinga Stewart, the Mighty Diamonds, Sly and Robbie, Freddie McGregor, Stranger Cole, Pam Hall, George Nooks, Bunny Brown, Junior Sinclair and Bongo Herman.

For the four disc deluxe compilation ‘Reggae Golden Jubilee – Origins of Jamaican Music’ Seaga handpicked 100 significant songs to emerge from the country to celebrate the island’s first half century of independence.

The compilation captures every era over last 50 years with hits from artistes including Bob Marley and The Wailers, Gregory Isaacs, Dennis Brown, Marcia Griffiths, Lady Saw, Buju Banton, Warrior King, Shaggy, Sean Paul and Damian “Jr. Gong” Marley.

To accompany the music, Seaga has written extensive liner notes and track-by-track notations in the box set’s 64-page booklet. The commemorative package also includes photographs from Jamaica’s first fifty years, a preface from VP Records President Christopher Chin and a foreword from radio personality Dermot Hussey and reggae historian John Masouri

The box set is to be launched in New York next week and Seaga will be the special guest at that launch.