Over the years, Jamaica's National Honours and Awards have become something of a farce, with some music industry veterans feeling slighted by the government.

Not so music producer Winston 'Niney' Holness who was awarded the Order of Distinction at King's House on Monday, National Heroes Day.

"Well, dem sey nuthin happen before it time yuh nuh and the Father know best. This was my day an' mi give thanks," said 64-year-old Holness.

Born George Boswell, Holness got the nickname Niney after losing a finger in an industrial accident. He started out in the music business during the late 1960s as an engineer/singer, learning the ropes from producers including Bunny Lee and Lee 'Scratch' Perry.

As an artiste, he had a sizable hit in the United Kingdom in 1970 with Blood and Fire.

Holness started the Observer label in the early 1970s. His work with Dennis Brown is considered by many to be his best work as a producer.

Under his watch, Brown did songs like Westbound Train, Cassandra and No More Will I Roam.

Holness also produced Wolves and Leopards, the singer's best-selling album.

Fellow producer Donovan Germain, musicians Harold Butler and Marjorie Whylie, Ronnie Burke, a co-founder of Reggae Sunsplash, and impresario Olivia 'Babsy' Grange were the other music industry figures awarded the OD.