EVEN IF Ken Boothe did not receive an award at the Prime Minister's Independence Gala recently he would not have stopped being an ambassador for reggae and Jamaica.
The singer has been involved in the music business for 39 years and intends to continue flying the Jamaican flag.
"Whether or not I got this award I would be doing the same thing. Winning it or not hasn't changed anything or stopped me from focusing on representing Jamaica," said Boothe.
Boothe was one of eight persons who received the Prime Minister's Award for Excellence at the Jamaica Independence Gala, held on August 5 at Jamaica House, Hope Road, St Andrew. Boothe was honoured alongside the Fab Five band, Sonny Bradshaw, Trevor Rhone, Bob Andy, Judy Mowatt, Rita Marley and Freddy McGregor.
The singer, who has been awarded by various groups and institutions, says he values all the awards he has received in his lifetime.
"I don't see any as more important. Even the smallest of them is valued. Coming from the Government this one is appreciated but I appreciate all of them and they all go in my museum," said Boothe.
Boothe says, however, that in receiving this award he is collecting on behalf of all the legends of reggae. He said he was happy to represent the persons who are the 'fathers of the music, such as Delroy Wilson, Peter Tosh and Bob Marley.
"While I'm glad that I received the award while I'm alive, I'm happy to accept on behalf of those who passed on," he said.
Ken Boothe is best known for hits such as The Train Is Coming, Artibella, The Girl I Left Behind, Puppet On A String, When I Fall In Love, I Don't Want To See You Cry and Everything I Own.
The veteran singer started his career at Sir Coxsone's studio. He has savoured success in all the decades from the '60s to the present. A 1996 version of his hit, The Train Is Coming, including deejay Shaggy was released on the soundtrack of the movie The Money Train, which starred Wesley Snipes and Woody Harrelson.
