Jacob Miller’s spirit hovered throughout the Lauderhill Performing Arts Center in South Florida on Friday, where he was posthumously awarded a lifetime achievement award by the International Reggae And World Music Awards (IRAWMA).

Miller, lead singer of the Inner Circle Band, died 44 years ago today (March 23) at age 27. The jocular artiste was killed in an auto accident in Kingston.

Ephraim Martin, founder of the IRAWMA, was a photojournalist at the Daily Gleaner at the time. He told the audience that he had a scheduled interview with Miller that day but they missed each other twice.

Days earlier, Martin met Miller and Bob Marley at the Norman Manley International Airport in Kingston. They had just returned from Brazil where Island Records, the company to which they were signed, had opened an office.

“When I got the news from the editor, I could not believe it,” Martin told Observer Online.

Miller, who sang lead on many Inner Circle hits including Standing Firm, Tenement Yard, Forward Ever, Backward Never and Keep on Knocking, was honoured along with fellow singers Rita Marley, Freddie McGregor and Glen Washington, gospel deejay Papa San, Honorebel, Chris Chin of VP Records, broadcaster Clinton Lindsay and Civil Rights lawyer, Ben Crump.

The 41st staging of the annual event saw Teejay winning multiple awards based on his hit song, Drift. Two of his victories came for Best Crossover Song (with Davido) and the U-Roy Award for Best Male Dancehall/DJ Rapper.

There were a number of performances, most notably from Sharon Marley and Chino McGregor who saluted their parents by doing several of their songs.

Pablo YG, who was awarded Most Promising Entertainer and Maria Jackson, who received the Mutabaruka Award for Best Poet, also performed.

The Chicago-based Martin first staged the IRAWMA in that city in 1982. He has also been a social activist there for over 40 years.