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First ‘Guyana Artistic Music Awards’ an excellent concept

But many artistes were no-shows

Henry RodneySaturday night at the National Cultural Centre proved an eye opener of the serious interest or lack there of, for the development of a Guyanese music industry. It was a night that offered honour to Guyanese musicians and entertainers past, current and future at the first local staging of the Guyana Artistic Music Awards.

Disappointing, however, was the very poor attendance that left most of the nation’s Premier entertainment theatre void of patrons; but those who attended left a satisfied bunch.
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It is safe to conclude that attendance was not of the best and maybe the plethora of reggae artistes onstage could have been trimmed. But the event had its plusses as a refreshing and differently executed entertaining affair.

The curtain opened with honouree, Aubrey Mann, taking patrons back in time with his Oldie but Goldie; “Stealing love on the side” and some other classics. There were other memorable performances such as Mark Bryan dishing the 80s favourite “Sharon, Sharon gyal ah wah yah doing to yah self…” in a canary yellow body hugging all-in-one jump suit that sent the audience into a fit of  celebratory cheers as  he  gyrated  and pranced  around the stage.

Johnny Braff, who is now 72, and who received an honorary award, was a burst of humorous energy as he delivered an unaccompanied version of the hit ‘It burns inside.’ There were the more memorable acts from Donna Makeeda, and a slew of others including up and coming artistes.

Presentations were done by Mandela, Cyborg, Redemption, Daddy Rusty, Kappa Shanti, Fire Fred, Stephen Dunbar as well as the Hooper clan such.

The Mighty Rebel also received an honorary award for his contribution to calypso and he also offered true showmanship with one of his hits.

Awards

Mighty RebelGuyanese singing sensation, Jumo Primo, who has been involved in music from boyhood days, won himself a Guyana Artistic Music Awards crystal for being the Best Male Artiste among nine nominees.

He knew that he was a nominee but while he was not certain of his chances against the likes of three Soca monarchs, beyond the call of duty he assisted backstage to ensure that the show flowed smoothly.

The artiste, who is popularly known as ‘rubber waist’, in receiving the award from US- based, Yonette Hooper, expressed gratitude at the honour, and shared the disappointment he felt that local artistes did not see it fit to attend the event set aside to serve as an encouragement to their craft.

Nonetheless he told the appreciative audience “I stand here as the ambassador for those who are absent and I hope that the event gets more support next time around.”

The other nominees in that category included Kross Kolor camp members Adrian Dutchin, Lil Man (B52), and reigning Soca Monarch Bones Man, as well as Marlon ‘Malo’ Webster, Mark Batson, 24K (Sheldon Braithwaite) and Antigua-based Sparkey Drakes.

Save for Primo, none attended the awards show. Dutchin is in the USA, while Batson and Webster are on active duty on Cruise ships.

US-based Guyanese artiste, Yonette Hooper won the Best Female award, pipping no show nominees such as Big Red, Cyd Hooper, Shelly G and Melissa Vanilla Roberts.

JumoTelevision and radio personality, Kester Dean, who is known for his fiery, unswerving delivery of the Gospel of Jesus Christ dancehall and reggae style, as well as Cherylyn Maloney of ‘Don’t Give up’ fame, took home GAMA crystals for being the best local Gospel artistes.

Nominated in the same category as Eddie Neblett, Solid Youth and Anil Azeez; Dean, in accepting the award expressed disappointment at the apparent boycott of the event by local artistes and entertainment stakeholders such as producers and promoters.

He however felt encouraged that his work and contribution to the Guyanese music repertoire was being honoured in his hometown and lauded the efforts of the organisers for going the course despite the many obstacles.

“This is a good thing for Guyanese and it serves as an encouragement when you are recognised for your work and I will continue to support it because it offered me a great chance to network and I do see the bigger picture”.

Maloney was absent but her husband collected the award on her behalf. Neblett is in the USA preparing to launch a new album, while Azeez is in Trinidad.

Rajesh Dubraj, the 2009 Chutney monarch and Fiona Singh were adjudged the best Chutney singers in the male and female contests. None was in the audience   to collect the crystals.

Jory who recently launched his first mix tape and is popular for his ‘ah de real thing’ slogan was adjudged the best newcomer while Timeka Marshall, who was in Barbados for the Reggae on the Hill show, won the Best female artiste in the Reggae Dancehall category over Celeste David, Shelly G and Canada-based Donna Makeeda.

Fojo was adjudged the Best Male Reggae Dancehall category winner over artistes the likes of Alabama, Jory, Colin I, and Kapa Shanti.

Makeeda won the female category in the Reggae Culture category over Guyanese Cyd Hooper while US-based Reggae singer, Zebulun, won the male category.

Eddy Grant and Habeeb Khan both were announced as Lifetime Achievement Award honourees, while a crystal for International Music ambassador was announced for Jamaica-based Natural Black.

Other honorary awards were also handed out Eze Rockcliffe, Celia Samaroo, Pamela Maynard, Bonny Alves, Henry Rodney, Neisha Benjamin, Bappi Roopchand, Gordon Bevaughn, Pat Semple, Ras Camo Williams, Sammy Baksh and the Mighty Blue Flame.

Yesterday, the common explanation given regarding why locals were not intricately involved was that the event’s CEO, Sherlock Shephard “did not follow or honour all the protocols,” was a bit “disorganised” and “there was a break down in communication at many levels.”

Burchmore Simon told this publication yesterday that he had initial communications with Shepherd as did other local stakeholders, months in advance, but he (shepherd) never got back to them in a timely fashion.

Another said his team did not attend because the invitations to the event were received at about 16:00hrs on the day of the show.

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All set for Guyana Artistic Music Awards

On Sunday local and Diaspora-based Guyanese music and entertainers are set to gather at the National Cultural Centre for the Guyana Artistic Music Awards, GAMA.

All told more than 90 nominees will be in contention in 34 categories for a GAMA crystal that honours their work and contribution to the development of Guyanese music repertoire.

Contrary to popular belief singers will not be the only ones collecting crystals as actors and Comedians are among the nominees.

GAMA Chief Executive Officer, Sherlon Shepherd, amidst his call for Guyanese artistes to come out and show support for their own, reiterated that the event is aimed at showcasing Guyanese talent musically while saying thank you to the people that make life more worthwhile and stress free.

“Come out and support your own and experience a packed programme of quality entertainment from Guyanese at home and from countries such as Canada and the USA as well as from some Caribbean countries,” Shepherd said.

More importantly, the event is focussed on creating a network amongst Guyanese entertainers in the Diaspora and encourage local artiste to stick to the task of insuring that the Guyanese voice and creativity is kept alive.

The categories up for contention include Best Soul, RnB, Hip Hop, Dancehall Reggae, Culture Reggae, Soca, Chutney, Gospel and Calypso as well as folk. There are also awards for comedians, community workers, entrepreneurs, music producers and engineers as well as promoters and editors.

But there will also be lifetime achievement awards for Eddie Grant and Habeeb Khan, while Natural Black is this year’s international music ambassador. This publication hears that First Born will be among the entertainers up for awards.

The GAMA CEO said without bias based on the selection process, that most Guyanese artistes whose music moved from national to international airtime over the years, will be honoured.

The younger artistes such as Timeka Marshall and Shelly G, as well as Tennecia DeFreitas and Vanilla are also among the nominees, as is Alabama.

The winners will all take home customized GAMA crystals.

The other GAMA committee members include founder Randolph Waterman, CEO of “Randolph’s Building and Renovation Company”; Elton Joseph, CEO of “Nortel Upholstery”; and Andrew Francis, CEO of “Ark Plumbing Inc.”

The GAMA is a production of the Guyana Canadian Artistic Entertainment group GCAE and was created after the President and other members of GCAE realized that many “Guyanese artists living abroad had and are making strides in the entertainment industry without anyone saying thank you or honouring them and we created this event to honour Guyanese artists worldwide,” Shepherd said.

He added, “After presenting the first GAMA in Toronto, Canada, we realized that we were only connecting with Guyanese artists in Canada and the USA, when there are Guyanese artists in many different countries making their mark on the Entertainment scene and so we decided to include Guyanese artists from other countries too to make this a truly Guyanese event.”

The GCAE CEO said, too, that his committee decided that Guyana is the fittest place to stage the Awards because “it is strictly a Guyanese Awards show and we wanted to honour not only the Guyanese artists living abroad but also the Guyanese artists living in Guyana.

Having so far experienced the unwillingness of corporate Guyana to support this venture Shepherd refuses to conclude that “Guyanese don’t believe in their own because the artistes are all here as a sign of support for networking and honouring our own and it’s now up to the public to come out to the National Culture Centre on Sunday April 25 and show solidarity”.

Meanwhile several other Guyana-born artistes based in Canada and the USA have arrived and are optimistic that they will get the local support to build a “Guyanese music network”.

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Guyana Artistic Music Award fires up – More artistes arrive

Starz ThisPromoters going it alone

With ideas to showcase and honour Guyanese musicians and create a network, major financial sacrifices and the backing of 21 Guyanese artistes from 13 countries in the diaspora; the Guyana Artistic Music Awards sounds like an excellent package. Its sponsorship package deal offers are relative as compared to the many mega shows that featured no show international artistes. But this idea being sold by Canada based promoter Sherlock Shepherd and his team is not getting the support that it should have gotten from Corporate Guyana nor local promoters, entertainers and to a lesser extent the local media.

Thus far there are no sponsors and this publication understands that the lone sponsor that was on board pulled out at the last minute.

That is not all, even some of the local artistes who have been listed as possible honorees have not responded favourably, and they often complain that they are not getting recognition.  According to Shepherd this is not because of any negative vibe on his group’s part. ” We believe that there is as deliberate attempt to frustrate this effort by persons known and unknown but we will persevere and prove ourselves as genuine people who believe in honouring and celebrating our own while they are alive with no strings attached. America and Canada and most countries do it so on Saturday April 25we will; come what may, Shepherd said.

As the countdown to the first annual Guyana Musical Splash and the Guyana Artistic Music Awards continue the promoter is reporting that there are some teething problems but they are assuring that the “show must and will go on”.

“We thought this would have been easy and Guyana; corporate and otherwise would have bought into it but with a few days to go we have no response,” Shepherd said

They have thus far invested a tardy sun and are still spending to make this happen even as we await sponsorship. We had one which pulled out at the last minute but we are not fazed we believe that the public will support their own.”  He personally refuses to conclude that “Guyanese don’t believe in their own because the artistes are all here as a sign of support for networking and honouring our own and its now up to the public to come out to the National Culture Centre on Saturday April 25 and show solidarity.

Meanwhile several more Guyana born artistes based in Canada and the USA have arrived and are optimistic that they will get the local support to build a Guyanese music network.

Yesterday, this publication met with Redemption, Kapa Shanti, Cyborg, Yontte Hooper and Donna Makeeda; some of the artistes and they are all excited about being back home and about the events.

Donna Makeeda back after 11years…ready to network and share music

Canada based Donna Makeeda a singer and magazine producer grew up and has won several international awards for her musical abilities in Kwakwani but she has not been home in 11 years. “I’ve live in Canada for quite a while but there is no place like home so I’m home to perform for my people,” she said yesterday.

She said when she heard of the idea for the awards and the Guyana Musical Splash she became excited and encouraged that someone has taken on the mantle to create a network for musicians and also honour their own on home soil.

She said she is encouraged by the music she hears coming out of Guyana and added that back in the day “we did not have that many studios and artistes popping up but this I believe will ensure that locals and Guyanese artistes internationally are honoured and encouraged. So my being her is two fold: to promote my music and to also promote the idea of the need for a united music industry where we can network to all our benefit.”

She is asking for local officials to realise the talent Guyana possess and harness it in a regulated industry where stake holders get their just deserts.

Kapa shanti gives up Germany show to come home after 24 years

US based Guyanese singer Kapa Shanti aged 35 has not been home since 1986 and the former Craig East Bank Demerara resident said “Guyana is like the closest thing to heaven and the people are really warm and friendly, its feels great to be home.”

Speaking to this publication yesterday he said he was on a card to perform in Germany with other artistes but cleared his calendar after he heard of the Guyana Musical Splash. “I’m ready to perform and give my people a taste me as I also experience the local boys, girls and veterans that are resident here.

The Guyana Musical Splash caught my attention first then when I heard of the Awards I said this is  historical and come what may I’ve  got to be in Guyana and here I am to perform, hopefully win an award and  also build   the networking bridge for Guyanese music,” the elated  artiste said.

In his musical career thus far he has produced one album titled Kapa Shanti as well as a mix tape and is currently working on a single as well as a few music videos. Of Guyanese music he said though it has not hit mainstream he likes the sounds coming out of his homeland and hopes that local artistes do not loose faith that one day the relevant legislation will be in place to their benefit. I’m not an authority on music but based on my interaction thus far with my Guyanese brothers and sisters in the entertainment struggle I found that they repeatedly say that their music is being shelved and ignored by radio and television Deejays for foreign music.

In his appeal he said “our music and its stake holders will only be able to develop, maintain their families, be encouraged to produce more at a better standard and quality and hit main stream if we create a demand.  This is done by making the music popular Deejays please make an extra effort to help your own.” He also encouraged Guyanese to come out on April 23 and 25 and be part of the start of a Guyanese musical revolution.

Redemption ready to redeem

With a name like Redemption US based reggae artistes Colin Nigel Simpson said he is home to support this “all Guyanese effort- the Guyana Artistic Music Awards.” The Lindener who became popular in Georgetown as the singing ital seller said too that he’s excited about the idea of “Guyanese honouring Guyanese in the music industry on home soil.” Reflecting he had his share of “fight downs” in his efforts to get studio time at home, not because he couldn’t sing but because he did not have the right linkage.

The positive vibes artiste who has an album out titled ‘Redemption: Good Health Long life’ expressed the hope that this event helps to confirm to all the studios, artistes and music producers “that fighting down artistes and sidelining them does not help to build an industry and we need to unite to charter a way forward so we can actually reap the benefits and create a Guyanese network.”  He said too that he fully supports the GAMA and that’s we he came home. “I’m a firm believer that we as Guyanese peoples are talented and can make this work. This is an event to build on and we will reflect on in years to come.

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Natural Black to get GAMA International Music Ambassador Award

Natural BlackYears ago Guyanese Natural Black, during an interview, described his music as “positive and straight.”

After weathering the storm to become an international Guyanese music ambassador who numbers among the selected few he did not get any of the Accolade Guyana Music Awards two years ago. But thanks to the Guyana artistic Music awards committee he is the lone Guyanese carded to receive an award on April 25, next, for being a true Guyanese international music ambassador.

Already some of the Diaspora-based artistes have arrived for the red carpet event carded for the National Cultural Centre and while corporate Guyana has not yet embraced the event “the show will go on”, assures the coordinators.

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Guyana Artistic Music Awards

Zebulun De Counselor is coming home

ZebulanThe artiste Zebulun De Counselor might not be among the more popular names announced, following a selection on local radio but it certainly is a name getting recognition internationally in the reggae and culture music realm.

In fact, he is a 2010 New Jersey Reggae Music Awards winner and has confirmed that he will be among the Guyanese artistes in the diaspora heading home as a nominee at the upcoming Guyana Artistic Music Awards slated for April 25 at the National Cultural Centre.

Zebulun De Counselor has been writing and performing music for over 16 years. Born and raised in Guyana, he moved to the United States in 1989 where he spent a few years in the sound system business on Jah Legacy Sound.

Soon after, Zebulun returned to his first love; recording music. He joined up with Sharp Edge Studio, then RockStar Studio out of New Jersey and produced multiple singles.

The first was “Give Praises” which was featured on the Onward Riddim. Artists such as Capleton, Richie Spice and Les were also featured on the album. Zebulun’s “Give Praises” was added into rotation after about a month on the streets.

“When you cold girl” was the second single to hit the airwaves, this song gave him a sudden surge of popularity around the tri-state area (NYC, NJ, CT). Without the support of a major record label its hard to penetrate the Jamaican market. However, “Give Praise” is the single that is breaking international waters. Although it has taken more than a decade to reach this level, Zebulun never lost his faith that it would happen. “Righteous music is positive music, at the end of the day righteousness stands” he is quoted as saying.

With his love for Rastafari and life itself, Zebulun’s future looks bright. To date, Zebulun has about 25 singles and each one has found a place in the hearts of the people who love Zebulun’s music.

By Mondale Smith

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Guyana Artistic Music Awards

Eddy Grant, Natural Black, First born among awardees

On April 25, next, when the local and diaspora-based Guyanese music and entertainers gather at the National Cultural Centre for the Guyana Artistic Music Awards, GAMA, some will be among a list of more than 90 nominees in 34 categories.

And as is done at the international level, singers will not be the only ones collecting crystals.

GAMA Chief Executive Officer Sherlon Shephard reiterated that there is no political leaning to any side in this prestigious event.

It’s a time out to say thank you to the people that make life more worthwhile and stress free while creating a network among Guyanese musicians in the diaspora while encouraging local artiste to stick to the task of insuring that the Guyanese voice and creativity is delivered to the world.

He listed the categories under which singers both local and in the diaspora will be  awarded in as including soul, RnB, Hip Hop, Dancehall Reggae, Culture reggae, soca, chutney, gospel and calypso as well as folk.

The other awards are for comedians, community workers, entrepreneurs, music producers and engineers as well as promoters and editors. There will also be awards for lifetime achievement and legendary works and the Lifetime awards recipients list include international Guyanese music icon Eddy Grant. Other names  mentioned for awards are  Natural Black and First Born.

The GAMA CEO said with out bias based on the selection process most Guyanese artistes whose music moved from national to international airtime over the years will be honoured as icons.

The younger artistes, on the other hand, will go through a nomination and voting process and the winners will be selected after points a maximum of 100 points are tallied from various sources of which public opinion will play a role via Facebook, Myspace, websites and music video releases.

Further a panel of judges will be employed to tally votes in addition to feedback garnered from radio and television stations and this will include the level of publicity that artistes have.

When asked what would awardees be receiving, he assured that they will each receive a customized GAMA crystal.

He also reiterated that it is not a one-man show and listed the players as including other founders such as Randolph Waterman, CEO of “Randolph’s Building and Renovation Company”; Elton Joseph, CEO of “Nortel Uphostelry”; and Andrew Francis, CEO of “Ark Plumbing Inc.”

Clearing the air on any misconceptions about the GMA and the Accolade, he said that the GAMA of Canada started around the same time that the Accolade Awards started without the Guyana Canadian artistic Entertainment group GCAE having any prior knowledge about the Accolade Awards.

GAMA was created after the President and other members of GCAE realized that many Guyanese artists living abroad had made tremendous strides in the Entertainment Industry without anyone saying thank you or honour and they so decided to create this. The difference with the GAMA of Canada and the Accolade Awards is that GAMA honours Guyanese artists worldwide while the Accolade Awards only honors Guyanese artists mostly found in Guyana.

He said, too, that “after presenting the first GAMA in Toronto Canada, we realized that we were only connecting with Guyanese artists in Canada and USA, when there were Guyanese artists all over the world in many different countries making their mark on the Entertainment scene and so we decided to include Guyanese artists from other countries”.

GCAE CEO said too that his committee decided that Guyana is the fittest place to stage the Awards show because it is strictly a Guyanese Awards show and we wanted to honour not only the Guyanese artists living abroad but also the Guyanese artists at home (living in Guyana).

Because we know that everyone cannot travel to Canada, hence, there is the decision to stage the event in Guyana.

By Mondale Smith

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Guyanese heritage singer gets Jamaica EME award

Melanie FionaAfter being among the nominees for her first regional honour Guyanese singer Timeka Marshall last week walked away with out the award that would have dubbed her the best new female artiste at the Jamaica Excellence in Music and Entertainment Awards EME.  But Guyana can still boast of sealing it first awards at the Jamaica EME non-the-less through Melanie Fiona a Canadian born to Guyanese parents but Guyana can be gratified that some one who prides her self in identifying with her roots Guyana can celebrate.   She along with India Arie was bestowed with the International friend of Reggae Awards at the EME.  Melanie Fiona recently completed a tour with Kanye West and is fast becoming a talking point in the R&B music circuit.

Marshall lost the ‘best new female artiste’ award to Lisa Hyper. She could not be reached for a comment but Kerwin Bollers her local manager said her being nominated for the award was an honour and that she will remain steadfast in her quest in the land of wood and water to possibly be the breakout Guyanese artiste who wins a Grammy award.

Like many, she was nominated for the Guyana 2009 Accolade music awards and has at least two crystals to her name. The songbird who hails from Linden was the lone Guyanese among eight Jamaican nominees at the EME for the ‘BEST NEW ARTIST FEMALE.

The award, according to the nominations criteria is given to an artist whose overall impact during the eligibility year establishes her public identity.  Timeka who was home in Guyana for a few weeks has taken a well deserved break and has gone to Trinidad for carnival after recording several songs at the Vison Sounds studios on some Jamaica produced rhythms. Bollers said she will be releasing a few songs in the next couple of weeks and will also commence filming for three new music videos in Guyana and several other Caribbean countries.

The prestigious Excellence in Music and Entertainment (EME) Awards was staged on Thursday February 4, at the Gardens of the Jamaica Pegasus Hotel, Kingston. The other nominees in that category were Gaza Indu, Phyllisia, Raine Seville, Sophia Squire, Gaza Kim.