Mel Cooke, Freelance Writer

Shaggy

There was laughter inside the Jonkanoo Lounge, Hilton Kingston hotel, on Wednesday evening, when in a flashback to 2007, singer Tarrus Riley commented, "Jah know, me never win anything yet star."

Riley was clutching the award for 'Most Promising Entertainer' at last year's International Reggae and World Music Awards (IRAWMA). However, this year he has a good chance of winning even more, as he has the most nominations in the 27th IRAWMA, leading the field at Wednesday's announcement of this year's nominees with seven.

These include the Bob Marley Award for Entertainer of the Year, Recording Artiste/Group of the Year and Best Album/CD.

The awards ceremony takes place at the Apollo Theatre, New York, USA, on Sunday, May 4.

Some of the other nominees in multiple categories are Buju Banton and Stephen Marley with five, Beenie Man, Shaggy and Mavado with four each, and Sean Kingston, Jah Cure, Machel Montano and Munga Honourable having three apiece.

Ephraim Martin, who heads the organisation which stages the event, said on Wednesday evening that votes are now being accepted at www.irawma.com, up to April 20. He explained that over 1,000 music industry experts were polled for the nominations, which were then verified by an accounting firm before the list was officially released.

Webcast

Only one vote will be allowed per person.

Those who do not make it to the Apollo in early May will get a chance to see the event live through a webcast. Winford Williams of CVM Television added that a two-hour special will be produced by an "all Jamaican team" from the 27th IRAWMA for broadcast across the US. Clips will also again be shown in 21 Caribbean countries.

CVM had a strong presence at the 27th IRAWMA launch, which was hosted by Amelia 'Milk' Sewell and Candace Buchanan, among the many persons who announced the nominees. And Miss Jamaica World 2007 Yendi Phillipps, when not announcing, was herself among the group of hooters in the front row who livened up the proceedings with yelps and applause as Norma Brown-Bell, Lloyd Lovindeer, Ce'Cile, D'Angel and Copeland Forbes, among others, listed those up for awards in the various categories.