Sonny Bradshaw jumps during a lively set with the Big Band at Jazz In The Gardens, held in The Jamaica Pegasus hotel gardens, New Kingston, on October 26.- Winston Sill/Freelance Photographer

It was with surprise and gratitude that legendary jazz musician Sonny Bradshaw accepted an award for his years of contribution to music from the Mayor of Miramar City in Florida on November 16.

Bradshaw has been a key member of the Jamaican music community for more than 60 years, spreading his music throughout the island and around the world. A musical genius who taught himself to read music and play the trumpet, he founded the Sonny Bradshaw Seven, famous for their dexterity as big band performers.

bandleader

Bradshaw's other roles have included being a bandleader, composer, producer, arranger and promoter, as well as a journalist, teacher and broadcaster.

Miramar City Mayor, Lori Moseley, presented Bradshaw with a proclamation at the opening of the 800-seat Miramar Cultural Arts Center in Florida, United States.

When The Sunday Gleaner spoke with Bradshaw recently, he said: "I was surprised they had remembered me, pleased to know their city has been watching my movements for a long time. I've been performing in Florida for years; they even named a Sonny Bradshaw day after me."

During the proclamation ceremony the mayor commended Bradshaw for helping to popularise Jamaican music in its various forms, mentioning his work as the founder and organiser of the annual Ocho Rios Jazz Festival. Following the presentation Bradshaw's wife, jazz vocalist Myrna Hague, accompanied by the Sonny Bradshaw Seven, performed to a full house. It was part of The Caribbean Jazz Gala, the highlight of which was the opening of the US$20-million facility, which also featured performances from Dean Fraser as well as Haitians Reginald Policard on piano and Jean Caze on trumpet.

Although Bradshaw has been praised for his countless achievements as a musician, he sees his greatest achievement as coming off-stage. Bradshaw considers his work with copyright laws to be his best contribution to date. He explained that "what I would say I would cherish the most is the introduction of copyright laws to Jamaica; that alone was good. It really allowed Jamaican artistes to claim what is coming to them".

training young musicians

Currently, Bradshaw spends most of his time training young musicians as part of the 20-member Jamaica Big Band. "It keeps me in touch with the music, writing, playing and rehearsing, working with the people who want to become the next big stars, 'cause we want more of them," Bradshaw explained.

Sonny Bradshaw