Sonny Bradshaw: `The Dean`

At 81 years old, Cecil `Sonny` Bradshaw is truly a Jamaican treasure, `The Dean`. Born in Kingston `Under The Clock`, (the term used to described those born in downtown,Kingston), Sonny was exposed to the piano before age 10 and although he could master it, his pet instrument eventually became the trumpet.
After attending Central Branch All Age School he went on to Kingston Technical High School.
His fascination with radio led him and a few of his friends into experimenting with radio communication. Their effort resulted in the group successfully being able to establish radio contact with radio stations in North America and Europe and indeed the whole world. His love for music saw the young Sonny trekking across the city to attend musical events spearheaded by great musicians such as Milton McPherson, Redver Cooke and Eric Deans until he started playing in an organized manner. In 1950 he formed the `Sonny Bradshaw 7`, and became a major force in live music. In 1959 Sonny joined the staff of the newly formed Jamaica Broadcasting Corporation( JBC) and became a founding member of the JBC Orchestra, along with the likes of Carlos Malcolm. Out of the JBC experience was born the famous popular afternoon radio programme `Teenage Dance Party`, founded by Sonny in 1959. He stayed with the programme until 1964 when the infamous JBC strike resulted in Sonny and other colleagues being made redundant.
His next move took him to Jamaica Welfare Services, where he spent quite a number of years making invaluable contribution towards social and cultural development. Sonny championed the cause for musician's welfare through the formation of the Jamaica Federation of Musicians, serving as president for 14 years. The Jamaica `Big Band` and the annual `Ocho Rios Jazz` series were the brainchild of Sonny. Presently, the Ocho Rios Jazz Festival is in its 17 years and is the `Real Macaw` in terms of authentic Jazz, Sonny's first love. Perhaps, the greatest asset of Sonny lies within his head and the longer it takes the powers-that-be to recognize and harness his great knowledge for the documentation and preservation of Jamaica's cultural heritage, it is the worst off the nation will be, culturally. Fortunately, Sonny's contribution was recognized when the Order of Distinction (OD)was bestowed on him by the government.
Coming soon is the DVD feature. `The Dean` The Sonny Bradshaw Story Part.1
Vintage Boss.

Remembering Vere Johns Pt. 3

Resettling in Jamaica seemed easy for Vere and his American born wife and she quickly adapted to the Jamaican way of life. Vere started writing for the Evon Blake owned Spotlight and Newday publications and the Jamaica Times. Again the old flare for telling it like it is started to impact the Jamaican media landscape as he took the supervising editorship of the Jamaica Times. He however got into early trouble when he became involved in a libel suit to the tune of 250 pounds damages and 1100 pounds in cost.
In 1947 he joined the Gleaner Company and was quickly out of there after what was deemed, a difference of opinion. The Advocate Newspaper was his next stop until he rejoined the Gleaner Company, this time as a writer with the company's afternoon paper, `The Star`, in 1952. Vere used his pen to great effect in his popular `Vere Johns Say`, a column made most famous up to the time of his death in 1966. A hard hitting writer, he spared non as he exposed many an absurdity and abuse, and the public man who felt he could never win the approval of Vere Johns, might sometimes be led to seek at least the approval of his conscience.
Not clearly expressing his political persuasion, Vere found the ideals of People National Party (PNP) more to his liking, as the party it appeared, seemed to expressed the aspiration of the newspaper-reading, working and middle-class folks. Nonetheless, Vere's success as a columnist was due mainly to his belief, in what was his own conviction.
During his journalistic work Vere joined The RAF_Recruiting Staff in 1943 and the following year he was transferred to Palisadoes as Chief Clerk in charge of Family Allowance. At the time too he started managing the Majestic Theatre along with his wife. It was at that theatre and others such as the Ward, Gaiety, Carib, Palace, Queens,Ambassador and theatres throughout rural Jamaica that he made his mark. Indeed the cream of the crop of Jamaica's musical greats were exposed via the `Opportunity Hour`, among them Lascelles Perkins, Alton & Eddie, Higgs & Wilson, Hortense Ellis, Stranger Cole, Jimmy Tucker, Simms & Robinson, Blues Busters, Fay Benneth, Lloyd Clarke, John Holt, Wilfred `Jackie` Edwards, Carl `Jackie` Estick, Roy Richards, Glen Adams, Lord Tanamo, Count Sticky, Derrick Morgan, Derrick Harriott, Rico Rodriques, Lester Sterling and Charles `Charlie Organaire` Cameron.
On the Jamaican acting scene, Vere was simple awesome in productions such as `Babes In The Woods`, `Fools Paradise`,`Arsenic and Old Lace`, `The King`, `Hamlet`, `The Songs of Bernadette`,`The Ghost Train`,`Are You A Mason`,`Merchant of Venice`, `Othello`and`Doctor Pilski. In 1955 he starred in the motion picture `Manfish` which was filmed at Morgan's Harbour, outside Port Royal. In 1956 he acted in one of the first Jamaican produced films by the Jamaica Film Unit, `It Could Happen To You`.
Vere was buried with military honours at the Garrison cemetery, Up Park Camp, with some of the most prominent Jamaicans turning out to pay their last respect to the giant.
Today, there is not one public or private monument to honour the great Man. No street, school,park, theatre, statue, building or even a scholarship in memory of the Vere Everette Johns and his wife Lillian Johns.
Soon to be released `Remembering Vere Johns`, the DVD series and Vintage Boss Magazine, special series, `Vere Johns The Legend`
Soon to be released. Remembering Vere Johns: The DVD series!
Vintage Boss

Remembering Vere Johns Pt.2

Vere Johns got married in 1926 when he took the hand of a very beautiful assistant post mistress working at the Linstead Post Office, Miss Lucas. Despite wearing many hats he was still able to find time to frequently write to the editors of various newspapers, on issues of various matters. This prepared Vere for his sojourn into journalism when he migrated to the United States in 1929. Never the type to be satisfied with little, he also took an active part in radio and stage dramatics, both producing and acting. Vere worked with several newspapers, the likes of New York World, New York Herald Tribune, New York Age, The Boston Chronicle and the Savannah Journal. In 1934, Vere's marriage ended in divorce.
It was in 1935 that Vere walked in the stage door of a Harlem theatre to start production on a new play when he was introduced to a budding actress by the name of Lillian Margaret May. A few months later they were married. Lillian, known in acting circles as `Lady Luck`, was a Brooklyn born beauty and she went on to play a tremendous role in Vere's life, as wife, mother and business associate. The Johns eventually moved to Savannah, Georgia where Vere became the editor of the Savannah Tribune Newspaper. He quickly became a central figure in the Savannah area and gained a lot of respect from many. One such person was the owner of the Savannah Star Cinema, a Mr. Thomas, who asked Vere to give him an idea in order to boost the attendance at the cinema. Vere took the matter to his wife and she suggested the implementation of the `Opportunity Hour` talent show. Wasting no time, Lillian organized the very first `Opportunity Hour` in 1937, in which she auditioned the contestants, emceed and performed.
The contest ran until 1939 when the family relocated to Jamaica and where the then manager of the Palace Amusement Company, Audley Morais, asked the Johns to continue the contest at the Palace Theatre. Hence, the first Jamaican `Opportunity Hour` took place at the Palace Theatre in 1939 with the first winner being Denzil Laing.