An organ once owned by the legendary Jackie Mittoo is on display at the Bunny Lee Museum in Duhaney Park, St Andrew.
One of the greats of reggae music, Bunny “Stryker” Lee, made his magic at Burns Avenue Recording Studios in Duhaney Park, St Andrew, and a museum celebrating the producer’s achievements has been pre-opened at the studio on 1 July, the day International Reggae Day is celebrated around the world.
The facility is piled high with memorabilia spanning the 60-year career of Lee, who died in October 2020 at age 79, including his trademark sailor hat, flashy suits and the recording equipment on which he recorded many of his hits.
The museum’s walls are decorated with paintings of Lee and his contemporaries, including fellow producers Clement Dodd, Duke Reid, Prince Buster, Leslie Kong, Lee “Scratch” Perry, Lloyd “King Jammy” James and Chris Blackwell.
Also on display are instruments owned by key members of Lee’s band, the Aggrovators, bass guitarist Robbie Shakespeare, The Skatalites guitarist Jerome “Jah Jerry” Haynes and keyboardist Jackie Mittoo.
Mr Lee’s son, Bunny Lee Jr., said the museum will officially open in February next year, which is celebrated as Reggae Month.
“My father has always been one to give due recognition, so for me personally it’s important to give the unsung heroes their due. This museum is focused on telling the history of reggae, how it came about, how it spread around the world, how the doors were opened, how the industry was created. That’s what the museum is about,” he explained.
James was the engineer behind many of Lee’s hits recorded for his own Stryker label, and Lee formally introduced James to the music industry. Lee began his career in 1962 as a “plugger” for Dodd, Reed and Kong.
“Being here tonight is important to me for more than one reason. Bunny Lee got me into this business, taught me and is my best friend for life!” James declared.
Bunny Lee, born Edward O’Sullivan Lee, produced a string of hits in the late 1960s, including “Bangarang” for Lester Sterling and Stranger Cole, “Let Me Go Girl” for Slim Smith and the Uniques and “Music Field” for Roy Shirley.
He came into his own in the 1970s, producing hits for Johnny Clarke (None Shall Escape The Judgement, Rock With me Baby), Max Romeo (Let The Power Fall On I), Stick by Me (John Holt), Better Must Come (DeRoy Wilson), Zion Gate (Horace Andy) and Cornell Campbell’s I Am The Gorgon.
Also in attendance were Lee’s widow Annette, son Kirk, daughter Bonnie, grandson Abbas, producers Lloyd “John John” James, Craig and David Daceka, Bongo Herman, TOK’s Craigie T and Marcus McKenzie, son of Local Government Minister Desmond McKenzie.
Lee was awarded the Government’s Distinguished Service Order in 2008 for his contributions to Jamaican music.
