Kavelle Anglin-Christie, Staff Reporter
Alton Ellis will be inducted into the International Reggae & World Music Awards (IRAWMA) Hall of Fame this year. - Winston Sill/Freelance Photographer
JAMAICAN ARTISTES and producers are once again being recognised for their work by their international peers.
Alton Ellis will be inducted into the International Reggae & World Music Awards (IRAWMA) Hall of Fame this year. He will be honoured during ceremonies for the 25th annual staging of the event at the Apollo Theatre, Harlem, New York, on May 6. Ellis says the award is something he has been waiting for his entire career.
"I have never been inducted in any hall of fame before and this is one of the biggest, most recognised hall of fame's. I'm just happy to be receiving it. It means a lot to be acknowledged. I have been coming from so far that people tend to forget about the work," he told The Sunday Gleaner.
Ellis said he found out about his induction via his booking agent and not those responsible for the ceremony. "None of the officials have contacted me as yet, but I think they will be contacting me soon," he said.
OUTSTANDING CONTRIBUTION
Ellis is one of two Caribbean artistes being inducted. The other is Eddie Grant from Guyana, who is widely known for his song Electric Avenue. Grant is being inducted for his outstanding contribution to the music industry as a producer.
Another Jamaican, Clyde McKenzie of Shocking Vibes Production, will also be receiving a special award the Ephraim Martin Inter-culture award. The award is named after the president of the company hosting the awards, and is also being presented to McKenzie for his work in the field.
"I suppose they give it to those who they consider to have made an outstanding contribution to the development of music," said McKenzie, who has been in the industry for more than 20 years.
Other Jamaican artistes have been nominated for special awards, through an online voting system. The leading nominees for 2005 include: Elephant Man, Damian 'Junior Gong' Marley, Beenie Man and Sean Paul.
