The Jamaica Observer’s Entertainment Desk continues with the 48th of its biweekly feature looking at seminal moments that have helped shape Jamaica over the past 60 years.

JAMAICA was a tough place to be living in during 1976. Political friction between the governing People’s National Party and Opposition Jamaica Labour Party caused nationwide division.

Foreign Press, a song by Trinidadian singer Lord Laro, perfectly captured that tense period. Produced by Paul Khouri, it was a massive hit and Lord Laro’s first success after moving to Jamaica a decade earlier. He became the latest ‘Trini’ to make a mark in his adopted home.

Today, Trinidad and Tobago celebrates its 60th anniversary as a sovereign nation. They gained independence from Great Britain three weeks after Jamaica in 1962.

Lord Laro was part of a contingent from T&T that came to Jamaica for the festivities and eventually settled here.

Guitarist Lynn Taitt and singer Lord Creator also arrived in Jamaica during that time but the first Trinidadian to put his seal on the country’s culture was a genial calypsonian named Aldwyn “Lord Kitchener” Roberts who lived in Kingston for just over six months in 1947-48.

Lord Kitchener’s song Sweet Jamaica was recorded after he arrived in Britain aboard the SS Windrush in 1948 from Kingston. That track heard him longing for Jamaican warmth and food after encountering the damp English weather and drab cuisine.

Taitt made the biggest impact. He played on numerous hit songs including Take it Easy by Hopeton Lewis, Israelites (007), Shantytown by Desmond Dekker And The Aces, Walk The Streets at Night (Derrick Harriott), Stop That Train (Keith and Tex) and the rocking instrumental Shang Kai Sheck by the Baba Brooks Band.

Lord Creator wrote and sang Independent Jamaica to celebrate the country’s independence. He scored other big hits with Don’t Stay Out Late and Evening News.

Another Trinidadian who put his stamp on Jamaica was Jerome Francique, a trombonist, arranger and engineer. He was part of the production team at Federal Records where he played on hits such as Duppy Gunman by Ernie Smith. Francique can also be heard on I’m in Love With You, Beres Hammond’s hit song from 1979; Satta Massagana, the 1976 album by The Abyssinians; and Reggae Got Soul, Toots and The Maytals’ album, also released that year.

Oscar B, lead singer for many years with Byron Lee and The Dragonaires, is also Trinidadian.