TRIBUTES CONTINUE TO POUR IN FOR LATE PIONEER MUSICIAN HEDLEY JONES!

TRIBUTES continue to pour in for late pioneer musician engineer Hedley Jones.

Jones, 99, died passed away of natural causes on September 1 at his St James home.

Jones’ son, Art, remembers him as a loving disciplinarian.

“He was an intellect. He was very disciplined and stern as it relates to getting things done, but he was a loving father. I remember him always taking my siblings and I to the beach on Sundays, then brunch after church. I have countless memories of him,” Jones told the Jamaica Observer.

Hedley Jones

Olivia Grange — minister of culture, gender, entertainment and sport — said with Jones’ passing, Jamaica lost a great son.

“I say that he was a ‘wonder man’ not just because of his long life but, also because of the varied and illustrious accomplishments that he packed into his 99 years,” she said.

“But of all of his contributions, Jones’ impact on our music must be counted as the greatest part of his legacy. It has to be so when you consider that he played music as well as made musical instruments. He played the cello as a child, and as an adult was an accomplished guitarist who made guitars.”

Grange said he was multifaceted — a musician, audio engineer, trade unionist, and writer.

“The versatility of the man was also demonstrated by his building of the first set of traffic lights in Jamaica; a feat no doubt assisted by his experience as radar engineer in World War II.

“The National Honors conferred on him, his Gold Musgrave Medals Award, the Lifetime Achievement Award from the Jamaica Reggae Industry Association are more than deserving for a man who gave so much to his country,”she added.

Jones is survived by six children.

— Simone Morgan-Lindo