Garnet Silk, Clevie Browne among musicians to receive honours on Heroes Day
KINGSTON, Jamaica — Aaron Silk, younger brother of Garnet Silk, has welcomed a national award for his sibling, but maintains he should have been recognised long ago.
Garnet Silk died in a December 1994 fire at his mother’s Manchester home. Considered the leader of the 1990s roots revival in dancehall music, he was 28 years old. It was announced on August 6 that the Rastafarian singer is the recipient of the Order of Distinction (OD, Officer Class), Jamaica’s sixth-highest honour.
“We give thanks, but this is long overdue. You have to remember, Garnet change di music landscape in di ‘90s when everybody was doing cover songs,” said Aaron Silk. “Dis should have happened a long time ago, but we still give thanks.”
Garnet Silk’s hit songs include Zion in A Vision, Hello Mama Africa, It’s Growing, and Kingly Character.
Also receiving an OD (Officer Class) is Cleveland “Clevie” Browne, best known as a member of the production duo, Steely and Clevie.
They produced or played on some of the biggest dancehall songs of the 1980s and 1990s including Sweet Reggae Music by Nitty Gritty, You Don’t Love Me (No, No, No) by Dawn Penn and Garnet Silk’s Love Is The Answer.
Fellow producer, Lloyd “King Jammy” James was awarded the OD (Commander Class), an upgrade from the Officer Class he received in 2007. James produced countless hit singles from his recording studio in Waterhouse, Kingston, including the transformative Under mi Sleng Teng by Wayne Smith.
Released in 1985, that song heralded dancehall’s digital age and celebrates its 40th anniversary this year.
“I give thanks to the Almighty for his blessings, to my family and to all who made this possible. Especially to the people in my community of Waterhouse,” said James.
Other entertainment figures receiving national awards are singers Etana (Shauna McKenzie), Kevin Downswell and L’Antoniette Stines, founder of the L’Acadco dance group, who will receive the OD (Officer Class).
Bertie Grant, a studio engineer who worked with acts such as UB40 and Sugar Minott, will receive the Badge of Honour for Long and Faithful Service.
The National Honours and Awards ceremony takes place on Heroes Day in October.
