MEMBERS of the entertainment fraternity had their night out at the Jamaica Reggae Industry Association (JaRIA) Honour Awards at the Courtleigh Auditorium in New Kingston on Saturday night.

Twenty-one of their peers were honoured for significant contribution to reggae. Pat Chin, who along with her late husband Vincent, were given the Lifetime Achievement Award, said she felt proud to be among this year’s recipients. “I feel very honoured and very happy.

I’m only sorry my husband isn’t here with me, but his spirit is here somewhere in the crowd. He would be happy too to get the award,” Chin told the Jamaica Observer.

The Chins founded the New York-based VP Records in 1979, the world’s largest independent label and distributor of Caribbean music. Prior to that, they ran Randy’s Record Shop in downtown Kingston. “It means a lot being recognised for over 50 years in music.

I’m happy to see reggae music has spread worldwide, not only in America when we went, but worldwide… I went to Alaska and there they were playing (Bob Marley’s) One Love,” she said.

“So our music has spread all over the world and I’m so happy to be part of this culture. I am dedicated to my country, culture and the people. I am blessed to have a beautiful culture like Jamaica’s.” Singer/songwriter B B Seaton, who received an award for composing a number of rocksteady classics, expressed similar sentiments.

“I really feel humbled and honoured. I really feel pleased to know a home-town organisation is giving me an award… I have received many awards out there, but at home it’s a blessing,” he said.

Seaton, 70, now lives in Britian. He, at one point, was a member of The Gaylads, The Astronauts, Conscious Minds, and The Messengers. His solo career dates back to the 1960s.

Dancehall deejay-cum-gospel act Stitchie sees the recognition as a “major accomplishment”. “It means so much when your peers who are in the same industry acknowledge your work,” he said.

The occasion saw posthumous Awards and musical tributes to Hopeton Lewis and John Holt, who both died 2014. Nature performed Lewis’s Grooving Out on Life, while Gramps Morgan and Cherine Anderson did a medley of Holt’s signature tracks.

Stick By Me, Stealing Stealing, Memories By the Score, My Heart is Gone, Tonight, Ali Baba, Strange Things, and A Love I Can Feel all found their mark with the audience. “It’s an honour and pleasure to accept the honour on behalf of my father. It’s a prestigious award and he would be grateful,” said Carol Holt, the singer’s daughter.

The recipients, some of whom were absent, included David Rodigan, Major Joe Williams, sound systems Downbeat the Ruler and Youthman Promotions, engineers Karl Pitterson and Overton ‘Scientist’ Brown, deejay Tyrone ‘Papa San’ Thompson, musicians Mikey ‘Boo’ Richards and Errol ‘Flabba Holt’ Carter, producers Lloyd ‘King Jammy’ James and Winston ‘Niney’ Holness, Inner Circle, Millie Small, Ernie Smith, and dancehall stage show Sting.

Jesse Royal was awarded Breakthrough Artiste of the Year, while Song of the Year went to Iba Mahr for Diamond Sox. The Honour Awards is JaRIA’s signature event and culminates activities for the organisation’s annual Reggae Month.