Burchell pays tribute to Jamaican music pioneer Derrick Harriott

Opposition Spokesperson on Culture, Creative Industries and Information, Nekeisha Burchell, has expressed sadness at the passing of veteran singer, songwriter, record producer and music entrepreneur Derrick Harriott, describing him as one of the architects of Jamaica’s extraordinary musical legacy.

“Derrick Harriott belonged to that remarkable generation of Jamaican musicians who did not simply make music. They helped build an industry, shape a national identity and create a sound that would travel far beyond our shores,” Burchell said.

She noted that, emerging from the pioneering Jiving Juniors in the late 1950s, Harriott established himself as one of Jamaica’s most distinctive voices, with enduring recordings including The Loser, Walk the Streets, Solomon and What Can I Do.