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January 21, 2008
"Irie FM Stages Jamaica's own Grammy Awards"
By: Kemesha Bolton
Photography By: Milton Raynor
Elise Kelly took the stage at minutes to 8 to announce the commencing of the IRIE FM Music Awards launch at Pegasus Hotel January 16, 2008. Mamma Elise began with a bit of reminiscing, as she spoke about the first year the awards was held. "It was exactly 9pm on Valentine's Day February 14, 2007, a hybrid of classical music and dancehall swelled on the airwaves, it was obvious something extra-ordinary was about to unfold." And she welcomed everyone.
The IRIE FM Music Awards is the brain child of Ainsworth Higgins popularly known as "Big A" and senior radio broadcaster at Irie FM.
With February dubbed Reggae month, the IRIE FM Music Awards falls right in the mix as it will be held on February 13, 2008.
In attendance were dignitaries and representatives of the music fraternity, such as: Rita Marley, Barbara Blake- Hanna, film-maker and organiser of the reggae film festival who brought greetings from the absent Member of Parliament the Honorable Olivia 'Babsy' Grange, Dr. Veren Shepard - Chairman of the Bi-Centenary Committee, Sydney Bartlet Principal and Director of Entertainment and Culture in the office of Information Youth, Culture and Sports, Dezi Young President of the Jamaica Federation of Music and the guest speaker for the evening Professor Carolyn Cooper.
The young director of Irie FM and their sister company ZIP 103 FM, Chad Young, gave a brief history of what the IRIE FM music awards is all about and thanked everyone for supporting Irie and Reggae music as he charged the musicians to be an inspiration to those who listened to them daily.
IRIE FM Music Awards is sponsored by Magnum Tonic Wine, Burger King and Cable and Wireless.
This year's nominees are:
Slang of the year:
eehhhhhhhhhhrrrrrrrrrr
Boom Bang
To di worl
you a happen
Pre
Dance of the year
Rum Ram
Drop dead
tek weh yuhself
hoola hoop
drunken dance
Best dressed female
Macka Diamond
Etana
D'Angel
Spice
Cherine Anderson
Best dressed male
Junior Reid
Beenie Man
Mr. Lex
Assassin
Shaggy
Stage show of the year
Take me away
Portland Jerk Festival
Rebel Salute
Gt Taylor Extravaganza
A Moment In Time
Duo/group
C-Sharp
RDX
T.O.K
Brick and Lace
Voice Mail
Gospel Artistes of the year
Goddy Goddy
Prodigal Son
Nana McLean
Ryan Mark
Dj Nicolas
Comeback Artistes
Junior Reid
Wayne Wonder
Baby Cham
Michael Rose
Chakka Berry
New Artist
Munga Honourable
Pressure
Bugle
Sean Kingston
Demarco
Collobaration of the Year
Junior Reid/MIMS/Baby Cham - "This is why I'm Hot"
Beenie Man and Alaine "Dreaming of you"
Bugle and Serani - "Duh"
Junior Reid and Alicia Keys - "No One"
Beenie and Barbie - "Give it up"
Producer of the Year
Daseca
Don Korleon
Stephen McGregor
Flava
Mario C
Rythm Of the Year
Raging Bull- Don Korleon
Guardian Angel- Arif Cooper
Blue Tooth- Liquid H20
Artillery- Don Korleon
Airwaves- Firelinks
Reggae Ambassador
Junior Reid
Sean Paul
Junior Gong
Shaggy
Sean Kingston
Humanitarian
Capleton
Richie Stephen
Ninja Man
Shaggy
Mavado
Singer of the Year Female
Etana
Alaine
Tami Chin
Cherine Anderson
Tessanne Chin
Singer Of the year Male
Tarrus Riley
Richie Spice
I Wayne
Jah Cure
Courtney John
Sing J Male
Mavado
Pressure
Demarco
Munga Honourable
Vegas
Male Dj
Beenie Man
Busy Signal
Vybz Kartel
Assassin
Bounty Killa
Song of the Year
"Back it up"- Beenie Man
"She's Royal"- Tarrus Riley
"Below The Waist" -Queen Ifrica
"Gully Side"- Mavado
"These Days"- Busy Signal
Album Of the Year
"Book of Life" - I Wayne
"Unselfish" - Courtney John
"The Symphony of David Brooks" - Mavado
"Love and Affection" - Pressure
"Strictly the Best 38" - VP Records
Female Dj of the Year
Queen Ifrica
Macka Diamond
Lady Saw
D'Angel
This Year's Award is set to be one of very High standard.