Producer JonFX officially launched his FX Music Group on June 1 at the Blue Martini club in Fort Lauderdale.

He said the company is “committed to providing artistes with the highest calibre sound and musical production possible”.

The event was attended by a number of music industry figures, including artistes Gyptian and Mykal Rose, as well as Mama Ali, widow of boxing legend Muhammad Ali.

JonFX, best known for his work with American rapper XXXtentacion, told the Jamaica Observer that FX Music Group covers diverse aspects of the music industry.

“Our primary goal is to provide artistes access to quality production, necessary information and training, from experts in each respective field of the music industry; from songwriting and copyrights, performance and media training, to distribution and marketing,” he said.

The South Florida-based company’s first projects are a series of vintage reggae albums by JonFX saluting the rocksteady, roots-reggae, and dancehall eras of the 1960s, 1970s and 1980s.

“There are several upcoming projects that will be announced closer to completion. We are excited to share them with the world,” said JonFX.

The 41 year-old started playing the keyboard as a child at his father’s church in Olympic Gardens. His first recording sessions were at the recording studio of producer Everton “Caveman” Moore in east Kingston.

Migrating to the United States, he was mentored by Glen Adams, a key member of producer Lee “Scratch” Perry’s Upsetters band. JonFX also did sessions for singer/producer Keeling Beckford.

Since moving to South Florida, he has had significant success with XXXtentacion, who was born in that region to Jamaican parents. He produced Jocelyn Flores, one of the rapper’s initial hits.

JonFX has also produced songs by Vybz Kartel, Gyptian, Sizzla, and Guyanese gospel singer Renwick Duesbury.

— Howard Campbell