The University of Minnesota, through its Reggae Institute, recently presented singer/musician Leroy Sibbles with a Lifetime Achievement Award for his contribution to music.

Sibbles received the accolade May 19 at the school’s campus in Milwaukee.

Making the presentation was Dr Scott Currie, director of the Reggae Institute and an associate professor at the University of Minnesota.

Sibbles’ work as singer/songwriter with The Heptones and bass player at Studio One earned him the award which was bestowed on the final day of the International Summer Institute for Reggae Studies programme which began on May 15.

During a presentation at the school’s auditorium, Sibbles played on bass two famous songs he had worked on — Satta Masa Gana by The Abyssinians and the Full Up rhythm, which has driven numerous hit songs, including Pass The Kutchie by The Mighty Diamonds and Pass The Dutchie by Musical Youth.

The 74-year-old artiste, who incorporates snippets of that legacy during his live performances, met Currie at Rebel Salute in St Ann last January. He is grateful for the recognition.

“If you do the work you should be compensated, you should be recognised,” said Sibbles, who noted that the students who attended the event “all seemed to be fans of reggae music”.

Participating by Zoom were Kenneth Bilby, most distinguished American scholar of Jamaican music, and author of True Born Maroons & Words of Our Mouth, Meditations of Our Heart; Herbie Miller, director of the Jamaica Music Museum; Carl Finlay, leading researcher of Studio One; and Dan Neely, leading American researcher of mento and ska.