August 6 continues to be a time of great reflection and celebration for Jamaicans as they commemorate Independence from Great Britain in 1962.

Tad’s International Record marks the big day with a musical tribute, Celebrating Jamaica 62 — the third in a series of albums hailing Jamaica’s sovereignty.

Produced by Tad Dawkins Jr, and containing 19 songs, this album resonates the sounds that are uniquely Jamaican.

The songs cover genres that have made Jamaican music globally respected; from dancehall to roots-reggae and rock steady.

Celebrating Jamaica 62 was preceded by Celebrating Jamaica 50 and Celebrating Jamaica 61. Fittingly, the latest instalment also includes Rocking Miss Lou by saxophonist Dean Fraser and singer Nicole Bolt. This medley includes renditions ofEvening Time and
Linstead Market, folksy ditties made famous by legendary folklorist and social activist Louise “Miss Lou” Bennett-Coverley.

Gregory Isaacs’s reggae rendition of American soul singer Mike Williams’ Lonely Soldier and Duane Stephenson’s take on The Melodians’ Sweet Sensation are hints of the tantalising musical of Celebrating Jamaica 62.

Beenie Man and Hezron’s cover of The Temptations’ Ain’t Too Proud to Beg, Baby Don’t Go by JC Lodge, Too Much Guns by Josey Wales, and Richie Spice’s cover of Toots and The Maytals’ 1969 Festival Song Contest winner Sweet And Dandy are some of the foot-stomping tracks making the album.

Tad Dawkins Sr, principal and founder of Tad’s International Record, stressed the importance of the ‘Celebrating Jamaica’ series: “This compilation is so important as it showcases reggae and dancehall culture, which are distinctively ours. These albums also highlight the talent of some of Jamaica’s female and male vocalists and instrumentalists. And, of course, celebrating Jamaica’s 62nd [anniversary of] Independence in musical expressions is Tad’s Record’s way of paying homage to who we are as a people,” he noted, adding that the album is a collector’s item and treasure for lovers of the sound of reggae and dancehall.

Among the other voices making the compilation are Bounty Killer (Tun Up Remix); Tanya Stephens (Penny For Your Song); Etana (Don’t Let Me Go); Sanchez; Busy Signal; Brigadier Jerry and Anthony Cruz.

The album is produced by Tad A Dawkins Jr. exclusively for Tad’s Record.

Duane Stephenson.

Hezron (left) and Beenie Man collab on a cover of The Temptations’ Ain’t Too Proud to Beg

DAWKINS SR…the album is a collector’s item and treasure for lovers of the sound of reggae and dancehall