Edward Seaga
Byron Lee
Edward Seaga is best known for his political involvement. However, he was associated with Jamaican music at a very early stage, having produced the first local hit song on record, Oh Manny Oh, performed by Higgs and Wilson.
The success of that song opened the doors for local artistes to get their songs recorded.
As Minister of Culture in 1962, he sent a group of ska performers to the World Fair in New York City. That was the first mass exposure that Jamaican music got internationally.
Mr. Seaga was the owner of West Indies Records Limited (WIRL) which manufactured music from major overseas labels, locally. It later became Dynamic Sounds, one of the top record manufacturing companies in Jamaica, now owned by Byron Lee.
Byron Lee is known by today's generation of Jamaicans as the 'Father Of Carnival', but his contribution to the devlopment of Jamaican music goes far beyond his exploits with soca. For over four decades, the venerable band leader has been delighting music lovers locally and internationally.
His band, Byron Lee and the Dragonaires has gained recognition throughout the eastern Caribbean and other parts of the world, as one of the most competent soca music outfits.
