Trending in Jamaica News: Edna Manley College honoured saxophonist Dean Frazer and studio engineer Stephen Stewart.
On Saturday, November 18, 2022, Dear Frazer, saxophonist, and studio engineer, Stephen Stewart received honorary degrees at a graduation ceremony at the Edna Manley’s College of Visual and Performing Arts.
The Performance and Contemporary Music Studies department at the Edna Manley’s College of Visual and Performing Arts has conferred a Bachelor of Music upon saxophonist Dean Frazer and studio engineer Stephen Stewart for their invaluable contribution to the cultural development of the Jamaican.
In his comprehensive acceptance speech, the soft-spoken saxophonist thanked the college for honouring him. And offered a quality piece of advice to the class of 2022: “Things of quality have no fair of time.”
The 64-year-old Frazer was born in Kingston. He started playing the clarinet at age 12. Soon after, he formed his band with Ronald ‘Nambo’ Robinson and Junior Chico ‘Chin’. The trio played at a youth club in Trench Town. He took up the Sax when he was 15. And in 1977, he joined the Lloyd Parks and We the people band. After his stint with Lloyd Parks, Frazer joined The 809 band, during which he backed Ziggy Marley and The Melody Makers.
Frazer has played on numerous recordings at home and abroad. At one point, he was the musical director for Taurus Riley’s backing band. He also played on many of Bob Marley’s and Dennis Brown’s hit songs.
The lesser known, Stephen Stewart, thanked his mother, Reverend Dr Carmen Stewart, who supported his musical journey, which he said began at the Jamaica school of music. He also thanked the college for honouring him.