Saxophonist Dean Fraser was on hand to support the Build Jamaica With Music initiative. - FIle

Jamaican music will get a boost with the launch of First Global Financial Service's (FGFS) Build Jamaica With Music project. The company, popularly known as FGFS, will sponsor a number of efforts that will contribute to the development of youth through good music.

Speaking last Thursday at the launch of the programme which was attended by a number of popular musicians including Dean Fraser, Dwight Richards and Tarrus Riley, the company's President, Sandra Shirley said that it would sponsor the Sonny Bradshaw School Band Competition.

The company would also sponsor the Alpha Boys School Band, the annual Ocho Rios Jazz Festival and put on a series of Sunday concerts in Emancipation Park to expose talented young musicians.

The School Band Competition aims to encourage music literacy among young people and lift the standard of popular music.

The Alpha Boys School Band, established in 1880, has a tradition of both the discipline instilled in its students and the outstanding music tuition they receive.

Musicians who have come out of Alpha include Don Drummond, Yellowman, Desmond Decker, Dizzy Moore and Dwight Richards. The seriesof free concerts in Emancipation Park will take place in July, August and December.

Grange calls for support

The Ocho Rios Jazz Festival, scheduled for June, has for the past 18 years, brought to Jamaican audiences some of the world's leading jazz musicians, who have played alongside some of Jamaica's best in the field.

Speaking at the launch of the programme, the Hon Olivia 'Babsy' Grange, minister of information, culture, youth and sports, said that the FGFS announcement was a timely one, when other companies were cutting support from some music events because of the violence and lack of discipline associated with some shows.

The minister appealed to popular artistes to clean up their acts and help to restore the pride of place which Jamaican music has traditionally enjoyed internationally. She added that musicians and artistes have a responsibility to use their talent to set better examples for their young fans to follow.