REGGAE ACADMY AWARDS
By RT
The first ever staging of the Reggae Academy Awards was held on
In attendance were, Prime Minister the Most Honourable Bruce Golding, Minster Olivia ‘Babsy’ Grange, Mega Actress Grace Jones, Music Extraordinary Chris Blackwell, Ernie Ranglin, African Superstar Idibi 2Face, Rita Marley, Ziggy Marley, Marcia Griffiths, Shaggy, Miss Jamaica World 2007 Yendi Phillips amongst others.
Performances came from the likes of Cherine Anderson who did “State Of
Etana display high quality performance, it was nothing but top quality delivery. Tarrus Riley treated the females with “She’s Royal”. Morgan Heritage delivered a high-energy set, they had crowd moving to their songs. Demarco paid tribute to all the “Fallen Soldiers” and Queen Ifrica represented herself and women well.
Other performances for the night came from Ziggy Marley, Toots Hibbert, Assassin, Harry Toddler, Ce’Cile, Elephant Man, Voicemail, Wayne Marshall and Diana King.
Tarrus Riley walked away the biggest winner at the awards show. He won four awards including Most Popular Song and Best Reggae Song for his monster breakthrough hit, “She’s Royal”. He grabbed the Best Solo Male Vocal Performance, and breakthrough Reggae Artiste awards, and then got two others, Rupert Campbell won for Best Reggae Video (director’s award) for “She’s Royal” while engineer Romel Marshall won for Best Reggae Recording.
Beenie Man won one award for the Most Popular Artiste, as well as Munga Honourable for Best Breakthrough Dancehall artiste. Sean Paul shared best Reggae Vocal Performance for “On My Mind with Da’Ville.
Stephen McGregor won Best Dancehall Compilation for “Tremor” as well as Best Dancehall Rhythm for “Tremor”. He proved once again why we should refer to him as a genius. The award was presented to him by recording greats Steelie and Clevie.
Brick and Lace were winners of the Best Dancehall Vocal performance by duo or group category, for the song, “Love Is Wicked”.
Island Records founder Chris Blackwell accepts his Trailblazer Award from Information Minister Olivia ‘Babsy’ Grange.
Prodigal Son receives his Best Solo Male Vocal Gospel Award from Tommy Cowan.
Shaggy won Best Dancehall Album for “Intoxication”.
Overall, the inaugural Reggae Academy Awards was a successful event.
Best Reggae Song
She’s Royal by Omar Tarrus Riley (Song Writer Award)
Best Solo Male Vocal Performance
She’s Royal by Tarrus Riley
Best Solo Female Reggae Vocal Performance
Roots by Etana
Best Reggae Album
Mind Control by Stephen Marley
Best Instrumental Recording/Album
Making notes by Robbie Lyn
Best Dancehall Riddim
Tremor by Stephen McGregor
Best Gospel Album
Prodigal Son, Prodigal son
Best Gospel Song
Can’t Stop Now by Kemoy Rowe, William Barclay and Courick Clarke
(Song Writer Award)
Best Music Producer
Stephen Marley
Best Solo Male Dancehall Vocal Performance
Nah Go A Jail by Busy Signal
Best Female Dancehall Vocal Performance
Chat To Me Back by Lady Saw
Best Dancehall Vocal (Performance by duo or group)
Love Is Wicked by Brick and Lace
Best Dancehall Album
Intoxication by Shaggy
Best Dancehall Video
Church Heathen Remix by Jay Will Breakthrough Reggae Artiste – Tarrus Riley
Best International Reggae/Dancehall Artiste
Collie Budz
Best Reggae Compilation Album
Jamdown Riddim Driven by Delmar Drummond Dangerzone
(Executive Producer’s Award)
Best Reggae Video
She’s Royal by Rupert Campbell
(Video Director’s Award)
Best Reggae Recording
She’s Royal by Romel Marshall
(Engineer’s Award)
Best Reggae Vocal Performance (Duo, Group, Collaboration)
On My Mind by Da’ville and Sean Paul
Best Dub Recoding or Album
Live As One by
Breakthrough Dancehall Artiste
Munga Honourable
Best Reggae Riddim
Guardian Angel by Arif Cooper/Fresh Ear
(Producer’s Award)
Best Dancehall Song
Nah Go A Jail by Reanno ‘Busy Signal’ Gordon
(Songwriter’s Award)
Best Dancehall Compilation (two or more artistes)
Tremor Riddim Driven by Stephen McGregor/Big Ship Music
Best Dancehall Recording
One Loaf A Bread by Damion Marley
(Engineer’s Award)
Best Solo Male Vocal Gospel Performance
This Place by Prodigal Son
Best Solo Female Gospel Performance
Pray For Peace by Chevelle Franklyn
Best Vocal Gospel Performance (group, duo, collaboration)
Ketch A Fyah by Prodigal son and Jason mighty
Best Gospel Music Video
Gully People Supen By Andrew Gray
(Video Director’s Award)
Most Popular Song
She’s Royal by Tarrus Riley
(Peoples Choice Award)
Most Popular Artiste
Beenie Man
Special Awardees
Reggae Trailblazer Award – Chris Blackwell
Reggae Legend Award – Ernie Ranglin
Reggae Icon Award – Bob Marley