The memory of cadence legend, Jeff Joseph, is being kept with the presentation of a posthumous Caribbean Music Award.
The Dynamitch Trophy was presented to a Dominica Festival Committee (DFC) events assistant, Marva Williams, at an awards ceremony in France on December 29th 2012.
It was presented to the family of the musical legend on Tuesday, but according to Williams the award will be held at the DFC’s office for a period of one year and would be handed permanently to the family.
Joseph, popularly known as Jeff Jo, died in Martinique in November 2011, one month after performing at the 2011 World Creole Music Festival.
Parliamentary Representative for the St Joseph constituency, Kelvar Darroux said that the award is an indication of Jeff Jo’s hard work and perseverance in ensuring that Dominica received the attention that it deserved.
“We all know the sterling contribution that Jeff Jo made to the community of St Joseph, Dominica, the region and the world by extension,” he said. “His death came as a shock and we cannot forget the impact that he had here on cadence music and the number of lives he touched and we would have been amazed to see the number of French nationals who came here to the Festival this year and it is still because of the impact of Jeff Joseph.”
Darroux added further that the award will be a landmark achievement which will ensure the continuation of Jeff Joe’s music in the hearts of everyone forever.
The award was presented to Jeff Jo’s father, Camus Joseph.
Joseph’s son and the mother of his son were also present at the ceremony.
Tears came from my eyes. before Jeff passed I used to tell folks Jeff is a legend in the french countries ,and wasn’t recognized as a legend before he passed in Dominica, I lived in Martinique late 70s to 80s, I seen the people shown loved to Jeff
How can we forget this true, born Dominican for the gift he gave to the world and to Dominica. l had the pleasure of being a friend and bother when Jeff was just a boy. We are talking about about 25 years ago, maybe more. He is missed, loved, and remembered as a true living human being. My love to Althea as well.