First ‘Guyana Artistic Music Awards’ an excellent concept

Apr 27, 2010 News

Jumo Primo collects his best male artiste award from Yonette Hooper who won the best female artiste award.

… but many artistes were no-shows

Saturday 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.
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
Guyanese 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.
Television 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.
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.