Culture Minister Hails Stephen Marley on Grammy Win

Minister of Information, Culture, Youth and Sports, Olivia “Babsy” Grange has hailed Stephen Marley on his success at the 50th Grammy Awards, presented on Sunday night in Los Angeles, California.
Stephen won the Best Reggae Album category with his debut solo album, ‘Mind Control’. The win was the first for Stephen as a solo artiste. He had previously won four Grammy awards as a member of his sibling group, Ziggy Marley and the Melody Makers.
Minister Grange said Stephen’s success represented the continuum of a great tradition which of which his father Bob Marley has been the greatest exponent. “It is amazing to behold the level of belief and commitment that the Marley family has displayed over the years in helping to keep reggae at the front row of world music.
“Stephen Marley in particular, with his creative genius as a producer, musician and artiste, is testament to the depth of Jamaica’s talent base. As we continue to celebrate Reggae Month, let us focus on building on the considerable foundation that we have already set in the music world, by empowering more of our artistes to rise to the levels of consistency that will take them to the Grammy stage and beyond.
“As we hail Stephen Marley on his success, let us also pay tribute to the other nominees, Burning Spear, Sly and Robbie, UB 40 and Lee “Scratch”, Perry. They comprise a formidable field and are all winners in their own rights. We also hail the hundreds of unsung heroes of reggae music who have toiled long and hard to help make the music what it is today.”
Miss Grange urged contemporary artistes to reflect heavily on the works of the pioneers and veterans, with a view to continuously improving standards within the music. She said: “Time and again we have shown that our music has a positive impact internationally. Let us create more Grammy superstars from the grassroots and give our youth a chance to prosper by helping them to build the inborn talent that is so common among us.”
It is most fitting that Stephen’s achievement comes during February, recently declared reggae month by the Prime Minister, Hon. Bruce Golding and the Governor General Professor Sir Kenneth Hall.