Lifestyle
EMEs to honour 'friends of reggae' role models
Friday, January 30, 2009
When the Excellence in Music & Entertainment (EME) awards are presented come February 5 at the Gardens of the Jamaica Pegasus hotel, special tributes will be paid
to two categories of entertainment notables.
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| Freddie McGregor |
Firstly, Big Ship patriarch and reggae veteran Freddie McGregor, pioneering female producer Sonia Pottinger and legendary reggae/dancehall producer Lloyd 'King Jammys' James will receive a special Role Models award, citing their significant contribution to the development of the industry.
Also, r&b, hip-hop act Missy Elliott, crooner John Legend and upcoming acts Jazmine Sullivan and Estelle will be named International Friends of Reggae in recognition for
their embrace of the reggae idiom through recordings and public endorsements.
Conceptualiser Richard 'Richie B' Burgess explained that such recognition was part of the overall vision of the awards to keep alive the perspective of Jamaican popular music as an international medium and one with tremendous influence in shaping culture globally. "Trailblazers like Freddie McGregor, Sonia Pottinger and King Jammys helped to pave the way for our music to reach wider audiences and particularly in this case, the ears of our overseas friends who having been moved by the sound and the culture, have added their own expression and thus helped to secure even wider reach for our music among their peers."
All four of the Friend of Reggae awardees have made recordings incorporating reggae/dancehall, and Missy Elliott, John Legend and - most recently - Estelle have performed in Jamaica.
Burgess added that this year, the public will for the first time be allowed to influence winners as votes via the Internet - through the newly constructed website www.emeawards.com - are being accepted. This in addition to the points gained based on performance of the nominees in the weekly Jamaica Music Countdown. Voting continues until Saturday, January 31.
Preparations for the awards are intensifying and that the organisers have promised an awards show of the highest standard. Since its inception five years ago, the EMEs has grown into one of the premier events on the Jamaican entertainment calendar. In addition to the nominees, a host of entertainment luminaries are expected to share in the red carpet gathering.
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