Dear Editor,

Many youngsters who today write entertainment pieces for The Gleaner or The Star, or both, owe more than a debt of gratitude to Dr Dudley Stokes.

Dr Stokes arrived at The Gleaner at a time in the 80s when fulsome entertainment coverage (mainly reggae and dancehall music) was unheard of in the paper.

His predecessor, Hector Wynter, had eased the door open slightly in the early 80s, thus facilitating some coverage on The Gleaner’s hallowed page of one of Jamaica’s first major music festivals – The World Music Festival held at the then Bob Marley Centre in Montego Bay in 1982.

Upon Dr Stoke’s arrival, I covered the annual Reggae Sunsplash largely out of pocket, taking my vacation to coincide with the festival.

Understanding the value and impact the music was having worldwide, Dr Stokes went about making the coverage of Sunsplash an assignment which I was sent to officially.

To further underscore his belief in, and commitment to our music and culture, I was appointed the first entertainment editor of the newspaper in 1991, forever changing the way The Gleaner and The Star covered entertainment.

Much has been written about Dr Stokes’ height and powerful voice. But he was much more than that. He had intellect, was a suave individual and a natty dresser with a laugh which would fill an auditorium.

The Gleaner has been blessed with great editors and when the history of that paper is written, three will stand out: Editor Emeritus Theodore Sealy, Hector Wynter who piloted The Gleaner through the days of the ideological war of Socialism v Capitalism in the turbulent 70s, and Dr Dudley Stokes for his insight and managerial skills.

The next time we hear a rumble in the sky it may not be the usual thunder but Dr Stokes’ powerful room-filling laugh.

Sleep on, Dr Stokes.

Howard McGowan

119 Upper King Street

Kingston 5