Rest in Peace-Byron Lee

KINGSTON, Jamaica: A bandleader who helped introduce Jamaican music to an international audience and founded one of the island's first ska bands has died.

Information Minister Olivia Grange says Byron Lee died of cancer at the University Hospital of the West Indies on Tuesday. He was 73.

Byron Lee and the Dragonaires band was founded in 1956 at age 20 and recorded several ska and calypso songs, including "Tiny Winey." The band soon signed with the West Indies Recording Limited label owned by future Prime Minister Edward Seaga.

Lee bought the label in 1964. His Kingston studio would later attract musicians including The Rolling Stones and Eric Clapton.

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Sending out Special Prayers for Byron Lee

Byron Lee, who is currently suffering with Bladder Cancer, will not let the ill effects of Cancer Treatment stop him. He is pressing forward. Lee was diagnosed with stage 3 cancer in November 2006. He had surgery done a year later. Although his doctors have warned him to slow down, he is not taking it easy.

Lee states, Music is a vitamin,"he said, "The doctors say I am a crazy fellow, but they don't understand what it means to me. The road is my life, so I will treat it that way If I have to die, what better way than on the ban playing, "tiney winey." There is nothing better then playing. The adrenaline pumps because I'm doing what I love."