Soft launch of Bunny Lee Museum today
Published:Monday | July 1, 2024 | 12:07 AM
The Bunny Lee Museum and Recording Studio, named in honour of the legendary record producer and pivotal figure in the development of Jamaican music, Bunny ‘Striker’ Lee, is ready to be unveiled.
A soft launch, to which music aficionados and cultural enthusiasts have been invited, is scheduled for International Reggae Day on July 1.
“The Bunny Lee Museum and Recording Studio aims to immerse visitors in the world of reggae through a curated collection of memorabilia, interactive exhibits, and state-of-the-art recording facility,” a press release stated.
Located in the heart of Duhaney Park, a community renowned for its musical heritage, the museum seeks to preserve Bunny Lee’s legacy while serving as a creative space for emerging and established artistes alike.
Visitors can expect a journey through Bunny Lee’s illustrious career, spanning decades of collaborations with reggae icons such as Bob Marley, John Holt, Dennis Brown and King Tubby.
“From vintage recording equipment to personal artifacts and rare vinyl records, the museum offers a comprehensive glimpse into the evolution of Jamaican music under Bunny Lee’s influence,” the release continued.
Lee’s son, Striker Lee Jr, noted that, “This museum symbolises and pays homage to the late, great, record producer Bunny ‘Striker’ Lee as well as those unsung heroes; those men and women who played an integral role in the evolution of reggae music.”
“Join us on a musical pilgrimage to the birthplace of reggae, where you’ll learn from visual presentations narrated by the man himself,” Little Striker said.
Record producer, Edward O’Sullivan Lee, better known as Bunny ‘Striker’ Lee, was born on August 23, 1941, and grew up in the Greenwich Farm area of Kingston, where his father was a shoemaker.
Lee began his career working as a record plugger for Duke Reid’s Treasure Isle label in 1962, later performing the same duties for Leslie Kong. He then moved on to work with Ken Lack, initially in an administrative role, before taking on engineering duties. Lee then moved into producing records himself, his first hit record coming with Roy Shirley’s Music Field on WIRL in 1967. Lee then set up his own Lee’s label, the first release being Lloyd Jackson’s Listen to the Beat.
He produced further hits during 1967–68 by Lester Sterling and Stranger Cole, Derrick Morgan, Slim Smith and The Uniques ( My Conversation), Pat Kelly, and The Sensations, establishing him as one of Jamaica’s top producers. Between 1969 and 1972 he produced classic hits including Slim Smith’s Everybody Needs Love; Max Romeo’s Wet Dream; Delroy Wilson’s Better Must Come; Eric Donaldson’s Cherry Oh Baby; and John Holt’s Stick By Me.
In 1982 an episode of the Channel 4 documentary series, Deep Roots, was dedicated to Lee. Filmed in the control room of King Tubby’s studio, it included a lengthy conversation with him and some of the musicians he has worked with over the years including Delroy Wilson, Johnny Clarke, Prince Jazzbo and Jackie Edwards. It then shows Lee producing a dub while Prince Jammy mixes. The program was released on DVD in January 2008.
In 2008 he was awarded the Order of Distinction by the Jamaican Government in recognition of his contribution to Jamaican music.
Lee, who had been suffering from several health-related issues, including kidney problems, died on October 6, 2020 from heart failure. He was 79.