Fabian Ledgister, Staff Reporter
( LEFT: )Shaggy's album, 'ClothesDrop' is on the list for selection, along with Damian Marley's 'Welcome To Jamrock' and Sean Paul's 'Trinity'. - PHOTO BY CLAUDINE HOUSEN ( RIGHT: )I-Wayne's album, 'Lava Ground', is one of those submitted to the Grammy Awards selection committee. - IAN ALLEN/STAFF PHOTOGRAPHER
THE SELECTION process is on for the coveted Grammy Awards. The submissions for it's 30 fields of music and 105 award categories, including the locally-dominated 'Best Reggae Album', has been made.
So far, the submission figures for 'Best Reggae Album' have surpassed 40 albums, shadowing the 2002 crisis, where the Grammy Committee were considering closing the category due to a lack of submissions.
Albums like I-Wayne's Lava Ground, Junior Kelly's Tough Life, Damian Marley's Welcome To Jamrock, Sean Paul's Trinity, and the surprise entry of Throw Down Your Arms, from Irish singer Sinead O' Conner, are among the top contenders.
According to chairman of the Grammy's reggae committee, Roger Steffens, this year has seen a sizeable and diverse group of submissions, which fully represents the field of reggae music.
"This year's submissions are quite impressive in quality and quantity, and are especially diverse, with entries of roots, rock, dancehall, pop, and more dancehall," commented Steffens.
The chairman of the board slated to select the 2006 'Best Reggae Album', added, however, that the board has expressed concerns of the group being too diverse, and is seeking to have the genres split into two separate categories. These categories would be 'Best Reggae Album', and 'Best Dancehall Album'.
"We were planning to pursue this split before, but due to lacking submissions, we held it back. Although we are now getting more than enough submissions currently, we would prefer more entries, so if we do split the categories, both would have more than sufficient entries," stated Steffens.
The requirements for album submission include that a release must be in the United States, and that its timeline be between October 1, 2004, and September 30, 2005. It is also required that the persons submitting albums are registered to the National Association of Record Arts and Sciences.
MULTIPLE ENTRIES
It appears that artistes are allowed multiple entries, as both Sizzla and Turbulence have been submitted twice, for two separate albums. These are I Believe and Songs Of Solomon from Turbulence, and Life and Soul Deep from Sizzla.
Other prominent acts submitted include Full Circle, by Morgan Heritage; Black Star, by Anthony B; Unknown Language, by TOK; Our Music, by Burning Spear; Clothesdrop, by Shaggy; Infiltration, by Assassin; Freedom Blues, by Jah Cure; and Reign Of Fire, by Capleton.
Other artistes who also made the submission list, include LMS, with London 2 Paris; NoiseShaper, with Rough Out There; Evette, with Lately; Edwin Yearwood, with Next To You; and Humble Soul, with his self-titled release.
