Trumpets, trombones, saxes play farewell to Lester ‘Ska’ Sterling
Skatalites member buried near Gregory Isaacs, Culture at Dovecot
Published:Friday | July 21, 2023 | 3:54 PMYasmine Peru/Senior Gleaner Writer
It was fitting that trumpets, trombones and saxophones took centre stage and played in perfect harmony at last Tuesday’s thanksgiving service for pioneering Skatalites hornsman Lester ‘Ska’ Sterling, at the Holy Cross Catholic Church on Half-Way Tree Road in St Andrew.
Vivian Scott, Hopeton Lewis, Mickey Hanson, Everol Gayle, Avery Crooks, Romeo Gray, Sammy Johnson, LeRoy Graham Jr, LeRoy Newell, I Sax, Dean Fraser and Everol Gayle were all the names written down to ‘play’ tribute to “the last instrumentalist in the most formidable and creative aggregation” — the Skatalites — and they were memorable.
Equally outstanding in extending musical tribute to Sterling were Myrna Hague, Dean Fraser, Dwight Richards and Bongo Herman.
Sterling, the Alpha graduate who was hailed for “opening the doors for the advent of reggae”, through the Bunny ‘Striker’ Lee-produced Woman no Want no Bangarang, which is arguably the first reggae song, passed away in the United States on May 16 at the age of 87. His desire was to be buried in Jamaica.
“Just for the record, I was the person who communicated to [former Prime Minister] P.J. Patterson about Lester’s wish to come home to Jamaica to be buried. I grew up with Mr Sterling,” shared New York-based LeRoy Graham Jr, saxophonist and founder of True Tribute Organisation.
A combination of word, sound and power, through Patterson, Minister of Culture, Gender, Entertainment and Sport Olivia Grange, and her team, led to a well-orchestrated service inside the chapel, as well as a programme which contained tributes from the prime minister, the leader of opposition, Grange, Patterson, Sparrow Thompson, music organisations such as Jamaica Association of Composers Authors and Publishers, Jamaica Reggae Industry Association, Jamaica Federation of Musicians and Affiliated Unions and the Institute of Jamaica (Jamaica Music Museum). Grange shared that Sterling’s remains would be interred at a special spot at the Dovecot Memorial Park, close to that of music greats such as Gregory Isaacs and Joseph ‘Culture’ Hill.
Sterling had one daughter Coleen, who also has a daughter, Joleen Buchanan and he was like a father figure to his nieces, nephews and their children, his niece Diana Atkinson shared, and all who could, made the trip to Jamaica. Among his family members present were his brother Keith, nieces Diana and Pauline Atkinson, Patricia Sterling, and grandnephews Amari Austin and Nathan Saddler, who all participated in his final send-off.
In a gesture of goodwill, Sterling’s widow made a presentation of his treasured saxophone to the Jamaica Music Museum. It was accepted by Herbie Miller, who thanked her, noting that “ska is the foundation of all music and Lester Sterling played a pivotal role in the development and dissemination of ska. It is important for these donations to be made”.
Putting the gift in perspective, Sterling’s niece, Diana, shared just how special that saxophone was to Sterling and his entire family.
“My uncle’s first wife ... we used to call her Miss Picwick ... bought that saxophone for him in the ‘70s. At that time, she paid US$6,000 for it ... we all know the history of this saxophone. And it was very special to my uncle, and it became special to us, too. He had other instruments ... even one that he sold for half price to one of his musician friends ... but the saxophone that Miss Pic, as he called her, gave him ... him blow it till him couldn’t blow it no more,” Atkinson told The Gleaner.
In concluding his tribute, Miller stated, “With his transition, we mortals are left with a considerable amount of music to to entertain and enlighten us as we reflect on the greatness we had witnessed, and been part of, when inventive musicians like Lester ‘Ska’ Sterling trod among us.”