Reggae Grammy Winners

The 2008 Nominees for best Reggae Album are:

• Jah Is Real
  Burning Spear
  
  
• Let's Get Physical
  Elephant Man
  
  
• Vibes
  Heavy D
  
  
• Repentance
  Lee "Scratch" Perry
  
  
• Intoxication
  Shaggy
  
  
• Amazing
  Sly & Robbie
  

The 2008 nominees are all familiar names; three of the five have won at least one award in the past, Heavy D has been nominated for three previously but hopes to take home his first. Elder statesman Winston Rodney better known to reggae fans Worldwide as Burning Spear took home the Grammy Award for Best Reggae Album in 1999 for "Calling Rastafari." Shaggy is trying to add a second award to his mantle piece having already taken home one in 1995 for "Boombastic". The other veterans Sly and Robbie and Lee "Scratch" Perry won previous awards in 1998 and 2002 respectively.

Elephant Man earned his first nomination for "Let's Get Physical" (VP Records). 2008 is the first time in 3 years since a Marley has not been the top contender. Brothers Stephen, Ziggy and Damian Marley won in 2007, 2006 and 2005 respectively. The Marley family has in fact won seven Grammys for Best Reggae Album collectively since the category was introduced in 1984.

Also worth mentioning is pop superstar Rihanna's nominations in three categories including Best Pop Collaboration with Vocals. The young lady from Barbados won the Grammy for Best Rap/Sung Collaboration for her smash hit "Umbrella" featuring Jay-Z. British songstress Leona Lewis who is of Guyanese descent received three nominations including Record of the Year for her hit "Bleeding in Love". Alicia Keys who is of Jamaican descent is also nominated for three awards. Keys has already won a total of 11 awards since her first appearance in 2001.

The 51st Annual Grammy Awards will take place at the Staples Center in Los Angeles, CA on February 8th, 2008. It will be broadcast on CBS and will air at 8PM EST.

Also worthy of note:

• Lady Saw (with No Doubt) won Best Performance by a Duo or Group with a Vocal in 2004 for their duet "Underneath It All."
• "Umbrella" by Barbadian superstar Rihanna won the Best Rap/Sung Collaboration in 2007.
• "Hey Baby" by No Doubt featuring Bounty Killer won the 2003 Grammy Award for "Best Pop Performance By A Duo Or Group With Vocal".
• Sean Paul and Trinidadian Heather Headley were both nominated for the "Best New Artist" award in 2003.
• Heather Headley was also nominated for the "Best R&B Vocalist - Female" award in 2003
  • Although Headley has not yet won a Grammy Award she has won several other prestigous awards including: A Tony Award for "Best Actress in a Musical" for "Aida" (2000)
• Also from Trinidad Billy Ocean won an Award in 1984 for "Best R&B Vocal Performance, Male" for "Caribbean Queen."
• Sean Paul was also nominated for the "Best Male Rap Solo Performance" award in 2003
• Guyanese born Eddy Grant was nominated for "Best Rhythm & Blues Song" in 1983 for "Electric Avenue" (Micheal Jackson won with "Beat It")
• Jamaican born Sandra Denton better known as Pepa from the rap group Salt-N-Peppa took home the award for "Best Rap Performance By A Duo Or Group" in 1994.
• Haitian born Wyclef Jean has been nominated for several awards and won a few including
  • "Best Rap Album" for "The Score" - Fugees (1996)
  • "Best Rhythm & Blues Vocal Performance - Duo or Group" for "Killing Me Softly with His Song" Fugees(1996)
  • "Best Rap Album", "Wyclef Jean Presents the Carnival" (1997)
  • "Rap Duo or Group Performance", "Guantanamera" featuring Celia Cruz & Jeni Fujita (1997)
  • "Rap Solo Performance", "Gone Till November" (1998)
  • "Best R&B Performance by a Duo or Group with Vocal" for "911" with Mary Blige (2000)
• A number of Caribbean-Americans have won Grammys in several categories including;
  • Alicia Keys, whose father is Jamaican. Keys has won eleven awards during her career including Best New Artist and Song Of The Year in her first year (2001).
  • Queen Latifah, who is also of Jamaican heritage won "Best Rap Solo Performance" in 1994 with her song "U.N.I.T.Y.".