Several Caribbean talents – representing Jamaica and Barbados – were nominated for the 55th Annual Grammy Awards slated to be held next year in California.
Nominated in three categories – reggae, producer (non-classical) and best compilation soundtrack for visual media – the music industry’s highest honor is guaranteed in at least one category when winners are announced on Feb. 10, 2013.
The Best Reggae Album category pits an all-male field of five contenders for the sure-win gramophone to a Caribbean talent. Except for the Wailers, finalists in the all-Jamaican roster of the Best Reggae Album category have each previously won the coveted music industry honor.
This year’s finalists include: “Miracle” by the Original Wailers; “Tomahawk Technique” by Sean Paul; “New Legend: Jamaica 50th Edition” by Sly and Robbie & the Jam Masters; “Rebirth” by Jimmy Cliff and “Reggae Got Soul: Unplugged On Strawberry Hill” by Toots and the Maytals.
“I am very happy that the Grammy committee has included this album for consideration along with the others nominated. I have great respect for the artistes in this category,” Toots said.
Toots who was nominated five times in the same category won the golden miniature in 2005.
The veteran entertainer celebrated his 70th birthday here in New York last week and expressed pride in being acknowledged for recording his first-ever acoustic album.
The album features many of his classic hits.
Toots & the Maytals’ acoustic release feature classic renditions of “Sweet and Dandy,” “Monkey Man,” “Time Tough,” “Bam Bam,” “54-46,” “Pressure Drop” and “Do the Reggae.”
Cliff’s critically acclaimed “Rebirth” is among the five nominees in the category. He previously won in 1986. Sean Paul took home his win in 2004; Sly & Robbie in 1999.
Reggae legends Bob Marley & the Wailers were named in the Best Compilation Soundtrack for Visual Media category which compiles classic music from the movie “Marley.”
Barbados’ native Salaam Remi is the stand-out talent contending the Best Producer (non classical) Grammy.
Also rooted from the island of Barbados, Rihanna copped a total of three nominations in the best pop; best rap-sung collaboration and best short form music video categories.
Last year Trinidad & Tobago’s Nicky Minaj garnered three Grammy nominations. However, this year her name was absent from the list of potential winners.
The ceremony is slated for the Staples Center in Los Angeles.
Photo by Charles Sykes/Invision/AP
