If you missed the 10th Anniversary of the Caribbean Gospel Music Marlin Awards, you missed a celebration unlike any other awards show.
The energy was strong and pulsating as gospel music pumped through the heart of the Caribbean, bringing a family of nations together in one accord.
The Awards show was held in Nassau, Bahamas on Sunday night at that Diplomat Center, and by the end of the night patrons deemed it "the biggest Christian Party in the Caribbean for the year."
There was one name being called throughout the night that stirred the most screams and cheers: Stitchie!!!
The Jamaican phenomenon walked away with the Producer of the Year Award, Dee-Jay Vocal Performance of the Year (Solo) Award, Dancehall Recording of the Year Award, and the Music Video of the Year Award.
His was a touching moment as he was presented with one of his awards by Jah Pickney, who also picked up a Marlin for International Caribbean Recording of the Year. It was Jah Pickney who, over nine years ago, led Stitchie to Christ and introduced him to a "better way" Stitchie acknowledged.
Also picking up top awards was Avion Blackman, of Trinidad. She is the daughter of the late Ras Shorty, who was said to be the creator of Soca Music; and she is also the wife of Mark Mohr, CEO of Lion of Zion Entertainment. She took home Marlins for Album of the Year, and Contemporary Vocal Performance of the Year (female).
In an interview with Blackman right before she picked up her album of the year award, she lauded Marlin organizers for their effort to give Caribbean artists a solid platform.
"I am really excited about this. I am happy to see finally all the Caribbean countries coming together uniting as one. This is the only way that we can grow strong as a genre of music and everything else. So I am really happy about that," she said. Her debut at the Marlins also marked her first time in The Bahamas, but she says, it won't be her last. " I am definitely coming back."
But the Bahamians did not fail to grab up a few of the coveted Marlins. Leading the pack was Landlord who took home three Marlins which included the award for Song of Year for his big international hit We Need Peace featuring Solo, Luciano and Alkatraz. He also won awards for Dub/Culture Recording of the Year and Adapted Reggae Worship Award
" It is a privilege to have this opportunity," he said. This is really a blessing and it my first time ever winning a marlin. I got nominated in 1996 or 1997 for about nine and I didn't win any of them. But this is a good feeling. I liked the networking and meeting the other artists from around the Caribbean and I already have bookings already, so this is good," continued Landlord.
Lavard "Manifest" Parks also won two awards for Hip Hop Recording of the Year, and Hip Hop Duo/Group Recording of the Year.
" The truth is that it doesn't really matter because there aren't much people doing Hip Hop in Caribbean so I was not really surprised," said Parks. " But the real story is, I am very proud to be a winner at the 2006 Marlin Awards."
Other winners included DJ Nicholas, Keron Ennis, Paul Flemming, Mizpah Bethel, Adrian Edgecombe and the Bahamas Harvest Church Choir, Talbert Williams, Kenyatta Taylor, Da Fam, Mr. Lynx, Judah Praise, Sharon Dyer, Divinity, Shervin Gardner, Avalanche, Cora Williams, Christian Massive, Dawn Sands, TCC, Harmonious Praise, Shaback, Dunamus Crew,Tracy Tracy, and Master Travis Finlay.
By: VANESSA C ROLLE, Nassau Guardian Lifestyles Editor
