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sir coxsone dodd dies

IT IS THE end of an era. Clement Seymour Dodd O.D., popularly known as 'Sir Coxsone', is dead.

Dodd, who many credit as being Jamaica's answer to Motown, fell ill at his Studio One premises at 13 Studio One Boulevard (formerly Brentford Road) yesterday and died shortly after. He was 72.

Reports are that Dodd was preparing to go home when he went to the bathroom and fell ill. An employee made an alarm and he was taken to the front office where he complained of chest pains. Another employee telephoned his wife Norma, while some mint tea was made for him and he was taken outside in a lounge chair. They say he never made it to the hospital alive.

Family members, friends and associates converged on Dodd's studio to eulogise the man.

Dodd's wife was too overcome with grief to speak, but others, gathered at the studio, did.

Jeniffer Lara, a singer who has worked with Dodd since 1979, described him as a friend. "He was a true friend, he was always there for you and always willing to help," she said.

Kenneth 'Suckafew' Edwards, who shared a 50-odd year friendship with Dodd, said his death comes as a shock. With tears brimming in his eyes he told THE STAR, "Is just today (Tuesday) he gave me a picture from the renaming of the road. We were just here talking, remembering old times and laughing. He didn't look sick, everything seemed fine."

Edwards said they were also making plans for the future. "He was helping to plan my birthday party and he sent me up to Stone Love. It was while I was there that my daughter called and told me the news. I still can't believe it."

Leroy 'Horseman' Wallace, a long time drummer with Dodd, remembered the man whom he said gave him his start in the music business. "Is him put the first drum stick inna mi hand. Him is foundation, all these youths today in music must learn them history, is him why a lot of things in music is possible today," he said.

Last Friday Brentford Road was renamed to Studio One Boulevard as a tribute to Dodd's contribution to Jamaican music.

Dodd was born in Kingston on January 26, 1932. He started in the music business as a sound system operator playing American R&B and Jazz records. In 1959 he opened Coxsone's Muzic City on East Queen Street, and in 1963 became the first black man to open a recording studio when he opened Studio One at its present location.

A legendary producer, Dodd has worked with and played a part in the careers of a who's who in Jamaican music. Some of the notable artistes he worked with are Bob Marley and the Wailers, Dennis Brown, Bob Andy and Marcia Griffiths.