One day in '62 - Music veterans remember Independence Day

For many Jamaicans, Independence Day is now just another public holiday. However, when Jamaica gained its Independence on August 6, 1962, it was cause for sheer joy, optimism and national pride. At the stroke of midnight, the British Union Jack was lowered and the black, green and gold Jamaican flag raised for the first time.

In addition to the flag-raising, the ceremony (which began at 11 p.m. on August 5) also featured a national parade and fireworks. There were approximately 20,000 people in attendance at the National Stadium, it was reported. Present were Sir Kenneth Lightbourne, Jamaica's first governor general, his wife, Lady Lightbourne, and Jamaica's premier, Sir Alexander Bustamante, who was later sworn in as Prime Minister. Also, there were Princess Margaret, representing The Queen of England, and her husband, the Earl of Snowdon. Dignitaries from other countries such as the United States, Australia and Pakistan witnessed the ceremony.

In a 2009 interview with The Sunday Gleaner, former Prime Minister Edward Seaga described the night as being one of the most memorable in his life.

"There was a glorious display of fireworks that went on for quite a while. It was very emotional because I was very involved in the event. I campaigned for it (Independence). It brought me to tears," said Seaga, who was the then minister of development and welfare in the Jamaica Labour Party-led government.

IMMENSE SIGNIFICANCE

For singer and record producer Derrick Harriott, the day had immense significance. Around that time, Harriott said he, along with his group, The Vagabonds, had the number-one song in the country. In addition, he said he was privileged to be part of the float parade.

"The excitement was there as usual with the float parade and while that was going on, I would be singing. I made festival songs before they had the Festival Song Competition in 1966 and that was Sugar Dandy and I Care," he told The Sunday Gleaner.

"There was a lot of joy and we were proud to be Jamaicans getting Independence. There was the float parade and then you go into the (National) Stadium and perform. That was really big. When we were declared an independent nation, it was such a proud moment."

Trying to break into the music industry at the time, but now a veteran artiste, Ken Boothe said the day was a joyful one.

"It was the most celebrated day. Emancipation Day, everything come in one. People feel better about freedom," said the singer, who placed second in the first Festival Song Competition in 1966 as a duo with Glen Adams, who passed away in 2010. The song was I Remember.

Boothe noted that unlike now, the society was "more together in mind and spirit".

The celebrations were not confined to Kingston, as there were activities around the island in places like Lionel Town, May Pen and Chapelton in Clarendon. But Edna Manley College of the Visual and Performing Arts lecturer and former member of Third World, Michael 'Ibo' Cooper, though a Clarendon resident, was not privy to these activities.

Only 10 years old at the time and tucked away in the rural community of Spalding, Clarendon, Cooper said the celebration he experienced was different from what other people in the Corporate Area had.
"Most of the excitement would have been centred around Kingston. We all had to go to school on August 6. The ceremony had the National Anthem and the raising of the new flag," he told The Sunday Gleaner, noting that the ceremony lasted for about an hour. He said there were a few perks to going to school on that day, as students were given a metal glass or cup with the Coat of Arms on it.
"Afterwards, we went home and listened to the proceedings on the radio," Cooper explained.

Having started playing the piano at six years old, Cooper said every morning he played the National Anthem that had been printed in The Gleaner. Although young, he was familiar with many political issues at the time because his father discussed them with him.

IMPROVEMENTS

In the years that followed, Cooper said the Jamaica Cultural Development Commission (JCDC) came into being and with that came Jamaica Festival, the Festival Song Competition and the Grand Gala. As time progressed, he said, there were also improvements in the equipment used at major events. And, as the technology improved, more people had access to television sets.

Fab 5's Frankie Campbell described Jamaica's Independence Day as a momentous occasion.
"In the early years, the celebration was tremendous. It was exciting times. Everybody was excited about Independence," he said.

Fab 5 has been together for 40 years and is heavily involved in the yearly Independence celebrations.
However, Cooper said things could have been done differently to mark Jamaica's 50th Anniversairy. "Coming down to the 50, both administrations should have done things differently. The celebration should have been a one-year period from August 6, 2012 to August 6, 2013 to give themselves more time and stretch it over a year," he said.

Harriott said the celebrations have changed over the years, sometimes improving, while at other times it has fallen off. However, he is hoping for better.

"I love Jamaica bad. I just pray and hope that everything goes right and we just strive to be the best nation. We want to make it better and for them to present real good positive artistes who come out and make the type of music that our children can listen to," Harriott said.

(from Jamaica Gleaner)