‘Toots brought soul to reggae’

Reggae icon Winston ‘Burning Spear’ Rodney is singing songs of praises following his recent win at the International Reggae and World Music Awards (IRAWMA) show last Friday.

The 79-year-old singer, best known for hit songs like Christopher Columbus and Mek We Dweet, was crowned with the Toots Hibbert Award for Best Album/CD for his Grammy-nominated album No Destroyer.

In a conversation with The Gleaner, Rodney expressed his gratitude for the recognition and what it means to him as an entertainer.

“I man feel irie getting this award. This is truly special. My wife co-produced this album and this award is a tribute to her. Also, truly want to thank the IRAWMA Awards team,” he said, hailing his wife Sonia Rodney and the award’s organisers.

Interestingly, the Best Album Award is named after fellow reggae music legend Frederick ‘Toots’ Hibbert, who was famous for his work with the group Toots and the Maytals.

Hibbert passed away in 2020 and is remembered by many – including Burning Spear – as an industry pioneer.

“Toots [a] original from that time until this time. He was, [and] is my brother. He brought soul to reggae music; he helped to put Jamaica on the international arena,” Rodney said.

The IRAWMA awards show, which unfolded at the Lauderhill Performing Arts Center in Florida, has long been a staple in the entertainment space, as organisers seek to honour outstanding talent and contributions to the scene.

For Rodney, while being considered worthy of an award is a special moment, it’s the fans who keep him going.

“I man will always be true to real roots reggae … I man always gives 100 per cent to my fans. I get my energy from them, so I man work for my fans from the heart all the time,” he told The Gleaner.

This love for his fans is what will be keeping the singer going for the rest of 2024.

“I man will be touring the world as a tribute to my fans. Lots of surprise destinations. I man also want to bring more awareness to dementia and cancer. Keep the spear burning,” Rodney said.

kenrick.morgan@gleanerjm.com