Reggae Soca Awards 2003

Caribbean music has clearly reached new heights in the dawn of the new millennium. Shaggy's "Hot Shot" sold over 11 million records World-Wide in 2001, the Bahamen's cover of Anselm Douglas's "Who Let The Dogs Out?" was a mega-success and Sean Paul's "Dutty Rock" has already sold 3 million copies since its Nov. 2002 release. Despite the leaps and bounds made by our music and their artists in sales their achievements continue to be overlooked by a music industry that continues to dismiss these milestones as novelties and flukes.

It is no less than a slap in the face when the Grammy Awards, the pinnacle of achievements for the music industry doesn’t air the Reggae category while showcasing obscure awards such as Best Bluegrass Music. Have no fear, if they refuse to recognize the International impact the music of the Caribbean has had, we West Indians will not!

The 10th Annual Reggaesoca Awards affectionately called 'Fiwi Grammy' took place Saturday, June 20th in it's brand new venue the Broward Center for the Performing Arts. South Florida Attorney/Activist Marlon Hill explained “If it takes place in a High School it will be a high school event, if it takes place in a posh place like this of course it will be a posh event.” The event complete with a red carpet and many celebrity performers and presenters seemed to finally arrive after 10 years of fine-tuning.

The Show was hosted by the veteran Jamaican actors and comedians Charles Hyatt and Faye Ellington whose superb improv skills helped to set the pace for the evening and carry the audience through the few minor technical glitches. The veterans were joined on stage by a young comic of U.S. Television fame called Razor. The mix of the old and the new became a recurring theme throughout the rest of the night.

The Lifetime Achievement Awards were given to Sonny Bradshaw and Daddy U-Roy while new artists such as Warrior King and Kevin Little were welcomed to the spotlight. Exciting performances came throughout the evening from Warrior King, Cecile, Kymani Marley, Freddie McGregor, T.O.K., Luciano, Beenie Man and many others. In the Soca Arena, Leon Coldero thrilled the women with his Dolla Wine while Kevin Little performed his Soca crossover hit “Turn Me On” to an extremely receptive crowd, Little walked away with two awards for Best Soca Male Artiste and Best Soca Song.

Reggaesoca Awards favorite Beenie Man won Best Reggae DJ, T.O.K. won the Best Reggae Group, Freddie McGregor took home the award for best Reggae Album, Cecile accepted Lady Saw’s award for best Reggae Female DJ on her behalf thanking her for being an inspiration to artists such as herself.

The evening ended with a climatic performance by all the singers and dj’s in attendance of Bob Marley’s One Love led by Luciano, the winner of the Best Cultural Reggae Artist Award. It was truly a sight to behold with Luciano, Beenie Man, T.O.K. Sanchez, Kymani Marley, Warrior King, Sasha, Richie Stephens, Mikey Spice, Freddie McGregor, Kevin Little and several others all on one stage. Overall it was an excellent production by Winsome Charles and Hi Class Promotions. The fans were delighted by the many stars performances backed by the impeccable Fab 5 band and by Celebrity presenters such as actor Leon from Cool Runnings and Waiting to Exhale fame however it was the music that shinned the brightest, the merit given to the music of the past and the welcome given to the fresh new faces of the future of Reggae and Soca.

photos taken by B.T.Hemmings copyright iCarib-Media Inc. and may not be used without permission