KINGSTON, Jamaica – Legendary bandleader Byron Lee lost his battle with cancer Tuesday. The soca icon died at the University Hospital of the West Indies at the age of 73.
Byron Lee |
Lee, fondly referred to as ‘The Dragon’, had been fighting transitional cell cancer and was being treated in Miami, Florida. He was later diagnosed with bladder cancer two years ago and returned to Jamaica, by air ambulance, on Saturday, 25 October, and was being treated at The Tony Thwaites Wing.
“The family of The Honourable Byron Lee Sr, OJ, regretfully confirms that he passed away peacefully today,” The Dragon’s daughter, Julian Lee Samuels, told The Gleaner. “He fought a very brave battle with cancer and was in hospital surrounded by his family and close friends. He will be remembered not only as an excellent musician, but as a very kind, generous, humble and talented man who was always working to use music to unite persons of all ages, races and people from all walks of life.”
Lee is survived by his wife, Sheila, sons Byron Jr, Edward John, daughters Deanna, Judith, Julianne and Danielle as well as grandchildren Amelia, Alexander, Jessica, Victoria, Amanda, Jaden and Dylan.
Prime Minister Bruce Golding said that Byron Lee had excelled not only as a musician, with his band Byron Lee and the Dragonaires, but was known to be one of the best promoters, label and studio owners, and can be credited for the explosion in popularity of Jamaica’s music as far back as the 1960s.
Olivia Grange, minister of information, culture, youth and sports, with responsibility for entertainment, said she was deeply saddened by the passing of Lee.
People’s National Party Spokesperson on Information and Culture, Lisa Hanna, expressed condolences and sympathies to Lee’s family.
“Jamaica has lost a loved and treasured icon of our cultural fabric whose larger-than-life talent pioneered Jamaican music to the four corners of the world,” she said in a statement.
Order of Jamaica
Lee was known for hits such as Tiny Winey and was recently conferred with the Order of Jamaica during a special ceremony at the hospital last week. He was given the award by Governor General Sir Kenneth Hall and the prime minister. The Order of Jamaica is the nation’s fourth-highest honour. Lee was awarded the Order of Distinction (Officer class) in 1982. That honour was upgraded to Commander class in 2007.
Lee’s career spans more than 50 years and he is credited with being one of the leading musicians to bring Jamaican music to the world. According to yahoomusic.com, when Bob Marley was a struggling young musician and a member of the little-known Wailers, Lee was perhaps the most well-known Jamaican bandleader in the world. Lee was 20 years old when he formed his band, the Dragonaires, in 1957, and has since travelled the world and assisted to popularise the carnival tradition in Jamaica through the annual Jamaica Carnival.
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