Larry McDonald to Receive Jamaica’s Badge of Honour for Contribution to Music

The 89-year-old percussionist, whose career spans nearly seven decades and includes collaborations with Bob Marley, Peter Tosh, Lee “Scratch” Perry and Gil Scott-Heron, will be honoured on National Heroes’ Day

Larry McDonald to Receive Jamaican National Honour

Veteran Jamaican percussionist Lawrence “Larry” McDonald is set to receive the Badge of Honour for Meritorious Service for his contribution to entertainment today, Monday, October 19, during Jamaica’s National Heroes’ Day celebrations in Kingston.

The 89-year-old musician, whose career spans nearly seven decades, has played a significant role in shaping Jamaican music, bringing traditional African-derived rhythms into ska, rocksteady, reggae and other genres.

McDonald’s extensive list of collaborators includes Bob Marley and the Wailers, Peter Tosh, Bunny Wailer, Lee “Scratch” Perry, Taj Mahal, The Skatalites and Gil Scott-Heron, with whom he maintained a nearly three-decade musical partnership that blended rhythm, poetry and social consciousness.

Larry McDonald boasts an extensive musical résumé

In 2009, McDonald released his debut album as a bandleader, Drumquestra, featuring contributions from Jamaican icons such as Sly Dunbar, Toots Hibbert, Mutabaruka, Bob Andy and other Jamaican musicians, celebrating the island’s rich percussion traditions.

Currently based in New York City, McDonald remains active in music, performing with groups including The Skatalites, the NYC Ska Orchestra and Subatomic Sound System. Earlier this year, he also delivered the keynote address at the University of California, Santa Cruz’s 42nd annual Martin Luther King Jr. Convocation.