When I arrived at 4:45 pm, despite a balmy breeze the blazing Sunday afternoon sun made working the red carpet a challenge. As the entertainment personalities, industry types and celebrities like actress Daphne Reid (Fresh Prince of Bel Air) actor Leon, (Waiting to Exhale) singers Junior Reid, Cecile, Etana, Shaggy, Kymani Marley, Sheila Hylton (Host & Performer) rolled out of their Limos onto the red carpet, the press was in full operations.

The 27th International Reggae and World Music Awards (IRAWMA) at the Apollo Theatre in New York City change to Sunday evening from Saturday didn’t affect the caliber or attendance of the event as veteran Journalist Vinette Pryce, who has attended all 27 staging of the road show, it noted, “was one of the best ever.” This years event from the simple, yet magnificent backdrop with lighting designed to accentuate and complement the performers and presenters, to the hosts especially, the sexy, beautiful, classy and eloquent Sheila Hylton, the jovial G.T.Taylor, commanding presence of Ritchie B thoroughly professional presentations, the outstanding performances by the artistes, the smooth flow of the production pace, the brief commentary and acceptance speeches which did not allow for boredom the Apollo came alive making nights presentation a memorable event.

Caribbean pop culture the greatest entertainer Soca Maestro, Michel Montana, who created history by copping the most ever for Soca at one time, (3) and Marley clan with five awards, Ziggy, Marcus Garvey Humanitarian Award, Kymani Most Promising Entertainer and Producer’s “Respect” Award and Steven, Best CD -Mind Control, and Songwriter of the Year,) dominated the night’s event. Tarrus Riley continued his dominance in reggae in the Song of the year “She’s Royal’ and Singer of the Year categories, taking both. Riley has won ten awards for 08. Sean Kingston won two awards for Best New entertainer and Crossover artist for his monster hit ‘Beautiful Girl.’

When I strolled into the event after the red carpet Martin’s International Award of Honor recipient guitarist Dwight Pinkney, was wailing his guitar rendition of his self-penned Dennis Brown Classic “ How Could I leave.’ The appreciative audience responded with warm applause. Sheila Hylton was up next; dressed in tight-fitted black leather out fit as she reprised her 80’s hit “Bed’s too big without You” she proved she can entertain. My colleague, Pat Maschino, billboard magazine, watching Sheila perform noted that all she needs is hit song to be back in the limelight.

Montserrat soca star Jaydene, after sound malfunction finally hit her stride with “Don’t call me.” Tarrus Riley dedicated his Song of the Year Award to the women, and a got rousing approval from the audience. Dub poet Mutabaruka delivered a moving tribute in the form of a livicated poem titled ‘Reggae Strong’ to murdered South African Reggae star Lucky Dube, who won the posthumous award for Best African Entertainer. Special mention must be made of Shaggy who won Best Video for Church Heathen. He truly knows how to be a star. From the red carpet to his acceptance speech and performance Mr. Burrell entertained the audience with his antics by poking fun at his fellow nominee and playing the drunkard to the hilt. Comedic dancehall DJ Professor Nuts, with his Jimmy Bascombe routine has nothing on Shaggy when it comes to art of playing the entertaining drunk. During his performance Shaggy appropriately drew ‘Strength of Woman’ as he brought sidekick Red Fox on stage (both with a glass of liquor in tow) who dj his hits’ Pose Off’ and Rayon’s ‘Big Up’ they got a rousing applause from the crowd.

The mercurial Junior Reid who won for Most Improved Artist, unusual since he is a 30 year veteran, got a rousing welcome from the crowd. When he launched into this his monster hit “This is why we Hot’ the shouts became deafening. The crowd simply erupted out of their seats when he segued to the Stalag rhythm for his signature “One Blood.” Etana, winner of the ‘Female singer of the Year’ award with her regal bearing and royal presence of beauty in elegant taffeta outfit rolled out her hit “Warrior Love’ and strutted across the stage in diva like fashion, you could sense she was important.

The doctor won for Recording Artist of the Year this was surprising since he didn’t have too many hits or monster tunes for 07.Tarrus Riley with his anthem and possibly the biggest tune for 07 ‘She’ Royal’ (rerecorded in both Soca by BL&D & Portuguese) would have been a more appropriate choice. D’Angel who came to the public’s attention in 07 as Beenie Man’s ex-wife seems to making her presence felt. Statuesque, well dressed she gave a good account of herself. Macka Diamond, unquestionably the hottest female DJ in dance hall ‘Hoola hooped’ her way across the stage with some creative dance moves.

The Hall of Fame IRAWMA Inductees; Billy Ocean, who sent a recorded thank you video message, gospel singer Claudelle Clarke, who was absent, the classy Errol Brown and British-base Rock steady icon Winston Francis who was on hand to received his plague joined a select group on inductees. This writer was especially proud for my publisher at Everybody’s Magazine, Herman Hall who received an Award of Appreciation for Contributions to the Music Industry along with Entertainer, Winsome Benjamin and Carib News publisher Karl Rodney. Everybody’s is possibly the oldest Caribbean entertainment publication in the United States. The magazine began publication in the1970s. I currently serve as contributing Editor to Everybody’s and have been associated with the magazine for twenty years. The enormous sacrifice Mr. Hall has made to keep the publication alive is commendable and he is truly deserving of being honored.

The absence of some big name artist who were nominated and even won like Beenie man didn’t affect the event as the A-list stars present more than made up for their absence. However it is hard to understand why big artist such as Beenie Man didn’t see it appropriate to send either a video taped message or representative. Contrast Beenie’s behavior to Billy Ocean or Shaggy who sent a video taped message at another award because he was on tour. When fans consider an artist enough to reward them for their works, the least the artist can do is say thank you in an appropriate fashion.

When ‘bad gal’ Cecile took the stage bust out her ‘Gangsta Girl’ tune he tight fitting bless dress seemed a little incongruous, however as she segued to her hit ‘I am Still Waiting’ her appearance seemed more relevant. The next performer was Kymani Marley who stayed with the tried and true by doing one of his father’s songs “Turn Your lights Down low’ the audience repesponded to him, however the more familiar ‘Dear Dad’ would have been more to appropriate especially since Kymani’s persona as solo act rarely reaches ethnic audiences in NYC. Tarrus Riley closed a night of great performances. Riley delivered a poignant and spiritual rendition his masterpiece “Africa Awaits” with Dean Frazer at the helm of the band duties it was fitting close from the singer of the year.

The music fraternity and Caribbean-American business community needs to give events like IRAWMA more support.

The event was memorable.

Winners of the 27th International Reggae & World Music Awards (IRAWMA)

1. Entertainer of the Year – Machel Montano
2. Recording Artist of the Year – Beenie Man
3. Best Male Vocalist – Tarrus Riley
4. Best Female Vocalist – Etana
5. Best Song – “She Is Royal”- Tarrus Riley
6. Best CD – “Mind Control”- Stephen Marley
7. Best Crossover Song – “Beautiful Girls”- Sean Kingston
8. Best Gospel Song – “Lava Ground”- Prodigal Son
9. Best Female D.J./Rapper – Queen Ifrika
10. Best Male D.J./Rapper – Beenie Man
11. Best New Entertainer – Sean Kingston
12. Best Calypso/Soca Entertainer – Machel Montano
13. Best Reggaeton Entertainer – Don Omar
14. Best Latin Entertainer- Marc Anthony
15. Best Compas Entertainer – Carimi
16. Best African Entertainer – Lucky Dube- Post Humous
17. Best Soukous Entertainer- Papa Wembe
18. Best Hip Hop/R&B Entertainer- Rihanna
19. Award for Outstanding Contribution to World Music – King Sunny Ade
20. Most Outstanding Stage Personality – Machel Montano
21. Best Music Video – Shaggy “Church Heathen”
22. Best Poet- Mutabaruka
23. Most Educational Entertainer – Buju Banton
24. Most Outstanding Show Band- Morgan Heritage
25. Most Consistent Entertainer – Freddie McGregor
26. Most Promising Entertainer – Ky-Mani Marley
27. Most Improved Entertainer – Junior Reid
28. Best Instrumentalist – Dean Fraser
29. Best Backing Band – Live Wyya
30. Most Popular Selector – Mighty Crown
31. Concert of the Year — Reggae Sumfest
32. Promoter of the Year – Sumfest Production
33. Producer of the Year – Stephen McGregor
34. Songwriter of the Year – Stephen Marley
35. Selassie I Award for Spiritual Service through Music – Tony Rebel
36. Community Service Award – Capleton
37. Marcus Garvey Humanitarian Award- (a) Ziggy Marley, (b) Jay-Z
38. IRAWMA Hall of Fame- Inducted (a) Billy Ocean, (b) Claudelle Clarke, (c) Errol Brown, (d) Winston Francis
39. Martin’s International Award of Honor- (a) Freddy McGregor, (b) Dwight Pinkney
40. Producer’s “Respect” Award- Ky-Mani Marley
41. Awards of Appreciation for Contributions to the Music Industry- (a) Herman Hall- Everybody’s Magazine, (b) Winsome Benjamin- Entertainer, (c) Karl Rodney- Carib News