Alison Hinds, soca artiste and friend

Truthfully, my main link to Byron was via Jamaica Carnival. From my years with Square One, through to the present, I've been a part of that. Music was definitely a huge part of his life and he had a great appreciation for it. He always came to me, (or I would go to him after he became ill), before or after my performance and he told me that I was his favourite soca artiste, which really meant a lot to me. Whenever I saw him he always had a ready smile and a hug.

I do believe that he's made such a huge contribution to the Caribbean musical landscape that it cannot be overlooked and I will miss seeing him around, working and being a part of every aspect of his productions. He couldn't sit still and just watch others work, he was very hands on and people respected that.

Brought soca to j'can people

Soca is now really being embraced by many Jamaicans in a very big way because of him and the way he was adamant that Jamaica should have a carnival. I think I and many other soca artistes from around the region will be forever thankful for his input. There were times I remember going into a new country (when I was with Square One) and finding that Byron Lee and the Dragonaires was already firmly entrenched, so we then had to work to establish ourselves as a band that was just as good as his. That's what healthy competition does and it made us a better band in the long run.

The Dragon may be gone from this earth, but his spirit is around and will continue to be a part of Caribbean music still. May he rest easy and I hope that I can last half as long and have half the energy that he had for so long.

I'll never forget you Dragon; you're free to fly.

Destra Garcia, soca artiste

I met Byron when I was with my first band, Roy Cape All Stars, and I knew that Roy was great friends with him. Roy would always say we need to work with Byron Lee and go to Chukka Cove.

When I met Byron Lee in Trinidad at Soca Monarchs I was shocked because I always thought (lead singer) Oscar B was Byron Lee - when I was growing up and I saw the videos I would always see Oscar upfront and Byron was always in the background. So, when I found out who he was, I was like, "Oh my god, is a Chinie guy".

When I got to know him, he would always give me advice. He was always pleasant - he would greet me with a hug and a kiss.

It was always fantastic performing with Byron Lee and the Dragonaires.

Byron was one of the pioneers that took soca worldwide and he was greatly loved and will be greatly missed.

Edward Seaga, former prime minister, produced Lee's first hit, 'Dumplings'

In this May 2005 file photo, Byron Lee (left) presents former Prime Minister Edward Seaga with a copy of the group's 1959 album 'Dumplings', which Seaga produced. - File

Byron Lee was one of those who achieved such greatness in his career that he became a legend in his time.

From his early years he made his mark by establishing a band, consisting of young players who had just left school, which was instantly heralded by the party crowds. These uptown occasions were regular enough that soon the band, which he called the Dragonaires, was playing on its own and pulling crowds of loyal patrons.

Never one to miss an opportunity, Byron Lee soon created a new direction for the band. I was producing Jamaican recorded music in the early 1960s and suggested to Byron that his band do a recording of a popular instrumental called Dumplings. This was done in 1959 in the RJR studio. It was a successful start.

Going downtown

By 1963, Jamaicans were composing their own music. The first Jamaican rhythm, the ska, was very popular, but downtown only.

I was, at that time, minister of development and welfare, and I wanted to see the ska become nationally accepted in keeping with the objective of Independence. I took Byron downtown to Chocomo Lawn in Denham Town, which was one of the principal performing centres of the period. There, he heard a small band I had established, which was to become known as The Techniques, rehearsing before a crowd of adoring fans.

Byron listened intently to the beat of the music. He was enthralled by the unique arrangement with the off-beat. That was sufficient. Soon ska was being played uptown, making it a national form of music.

Creating national music

He soon turned his interest to the calypso and soca music of Trinidad, which he mastered and brought back to Jamaica. At first, this was uptown music. But when he later promoted the Trinidad Carnival in Jamaica, he drew the downtown music lovers into his entrancing carnival parades. Once again, he helped to create a national music.

These two transformations made Byron Lee a social engineer who used music as his tool to close the social gaps.

He recently invited me to see Dynamic Sounds, the largest studio in Jamaica, which he built. I had established a small studio some 50 years ago, called West Indies Records Limited. He showed me a giant keyboard, which played every instrument.

Will live on

"You see this Eddie, it's the greatest thing. It don't have no girlfriend; it ready for work everyday; it don't ask for any raise of pay. It just plays what I want everyday". That was the Dragon, who demanded from everyone what he demanded from himself.

The 'Dragon', as he was called - my close friend for some 50 years - is gone. But he will always remain in the hearts of those here and abroad who loved his music, and will be ever present with each rotation of the rendition of a record by Byron Lee and the Dragonaires.

Oscar B, lead singer, Byron Lee and the Dragonaires

It was March 10, 1991 when I made my first trip to Jamaica to join the famous Byron Lee and the Dragonaires and I met, for the first time, the man they call THE DRAGON. Byron was a perfectionist and he always wanted things done his way. Whatever it may be, he knew what he wanted and how to get it out of you. He never held his emotions back and had to let you know how he felt. When it was wrong he would let you know. But when you did well he would reserve his feelings; he would say that "the best is always expected from you once you are a part of Byron Lee and the Dragonaires - you are hand-picked".

Running the show

While onstage, if it was not going well, he would talk to you in the monitors and say words like "Negative, negative. Out. Never again man." He chose the songs that he thought should be played and he watched the reaction of the people in the crowd. When it was going the way he wanted, his famous phrase was "Wiggi wiggi wiggi wiggi. All night man, all night. Go dey Oscar, go dey. Work dem, you have dem, you have dem."

I will never forget the first day I walked in his office at Dynamic Sounds. There was a replica of a stone on his desk with a stream of blood running down and the bottom read: "The Dragon will make blood out of stone".

The Dragon will be missed dearly. Nobody did it like him.

The two-and-a-half years I spent as a guitarist with the legendary Byron Lee and his Dragonaires could fill a book. My first tour ever was with them, under his leadership, and I will never forget his passion for perfection. His clashes with his musicians over a sloppy solo or botched chords are unforgettable and something I took with me in my future endeavours as a bandleader and producer. He looked out for the younger ones and would have us travel with him whenever possible.

On one unforgettable occasion, the band was in Trinidad for Carnival. He called the hotel where we we were staying and invited Morvin Brooks, Courtney Robb and me over to his hotel for breakfast. When we arrived, seated at The Dragon's table was none other than Mick Jagger, an idol of mine since my teen years. Byron just wanted us to meet a real-life rock star.

Byron's contribution to Caribbean music cannot be overstated. His reputation as an impresario is unparalleled. His shows were always on time, his production flawless and his presentation first class. Byron might not have been a virtuoso, but to keep a band such as his on top for 50 years speaks volumes about the man.

Even before Bob, there was Byron. Rest peacefully Dragon.

David Michael Rudder, soca artiste and friend

On November 4, a man, a leader, a builder of bridges, left the yard of life. Later in the evening of the same day, another man, also a builder of bridges, was elected to be the 44th president of another proud country. One, a child of Africa and America, holds the promise of building bridges that, until now, we had only dreamed about and hoped for. The other, a Caribbean child of Africa and China, used his music to build bridges throughout our islands and beyond.

Byron Lee was a friend, an elder, a father figure and a mentor to me and the many musicians he took under his wing. A man who seemed to thrive on pressure, he was one of the most positive people I have ever met and he was a true visionary.

Breathed the fire of life

I remember the time he told me, "David, I am going to bring Trinidad Carnival to Jamaica." He believed introducing some of the joys of carnival to Jamaica would help lift the spirit of the people. At the time, I thought it was no more than a dream. Lo and behold, the following year my band, Charlie's Roots, was privileged to perform at the first Jamaica Carnival.

Byron was the dragon that breathed the fire of life into the things he loved and believed in. Now, "the Dragon don't walk the trail no more." Farewell my friend.

Father Francis Ryan, former sportsmaster at St George's College

Byron picked up his music at St George's College and was introduced to the piano by the Mercy Sisters at Alpha.

Byron was a natural leader. The kids all looked up to him and he was good at so many sports. He played football, he was a good boxer, he was on the swimming team, he was a good cricketer - he was a batsman and good wicketkeeper - and he was also on the track team and played lawn tennis. There wasn't a sport Byron wasn't interested in and that, to my mind, was very important because it shaped his character as a leader.

The band actually started through sports. After a win at Sabina Park, the football team was in the clubhouse beating pots and pans celebrating and that's where Byron Lee and the Dragonaires started.

My memories of Byron are very strong. I had him on all of my teams and he was always very reliable. He had a good character and he put everything into what he did.