JaRIA Awards 2013

By Steve James on Saturday, April 13, 2013 - Photos by Steve James - Comment

The awards took place in Kingston during the reggae month.

The 2013 JaRIA Awards was held on Saturday, February 23, 2013 at the Emancipation Park, Kingston Jamaica. The event which was promoted as an elegant gala affair attracted several musicians, media personal and those who have contributed to the growth and exposure of this wonderful music called reggae.

Among those in attendance, were Jamaica’s two former holders of the Miss World title; current Minister of Youth and Culture Lisa Hanna who won the Miss World title in 1993 and Cindy Breakspeare winner of the Miss World title in 1976. She is however just as popularly known as the mother of Grammy Award winner Damian ‘Junior Gong’ Marley. Also in attendance was the reigning Ms. Jamaica UK Gemma Feare.

JARIA Awards 2013

History was created when for the first time one artiste, Beres Hammond was honored in two categories for Songwriter and Male Artiste of the Year. Grammy winner Jimmy Cliff OM, took home the Lifetime Achievement award while trumpeter Bobby Ellis who played arguably reggae’s most popular solo on Bob Andy’s I’ve Got to Go Back Home was honored in the musicians’ category. Veteran producer Bunny Lee and Paul ‘Jah Screw’ Love who were both responsible for several of the biggest hits from Barrington Levy, Johnny Clarke and Delroy Wilson (among many others) were both honored in the Producers category. The female awardees were Cynthia Schloss (who was honoured posthumously) and Queen Ifrica who received the well deserved award for Best Female Artiste.

The Song of the Year which was determined by votes from Facebook fans went to Damian ‘Junior Gong’ Marley for the deep lyrics of ‘Affairs of the Heart’. However, the least surprising award of the night went to reggae act Chronixx as the Emerging Act of the Year.

The full list of well deserved recipients of awards are:

Lifetime Achievement - JIMMY CLIFF, OM
Mentorship - FRANKLYN CAMPBELL, OD
Posthumous - CYNTHIA SCHLOSS and JOE GIBBS
Engineers - STEPHEN STEWART and CEGRICA “SOLJIE” HAMILTON
Producers - BUNNY LEE and PAUL “JAH SCREW” LOVE
Sound Systems - MELLO CANARY SOUND SYSTEM and METRO MEDIA SOUND SYSTEM
Musicians - ASTON “FAMILYMAN” BARRETT and BOBBY ELLIS
Artiste/Male - BERES HAMMOND
Artiste/Female - QUEEN IFRICA
Duo/Group Vocals - THE MIGHTY DIAMONDS
Band - THIRD WORLD

Outstanding Contribution

Media - BARRINGTON “BARRY G” GORDON, OD
Promoter - REBEL SALUTE
Songwriter - BERES HAMMOND
Song of the Year - “AFFAIRS OF THE HEART” by DAMIAN MARLEY
Emerging Artiste of the Year - CHRONIXX