Top marks for Excellence in Music Ceremony

‘Festive’ best describes the red carpet at Tuesday evening’s Excellence in Music Ceremony at The Courtleigh Auditorium in New Kingston, as the 2026 honourees basked in the full support of their family members, close friends and the wider music community. Organised by Back 2 Da Future Music Limited in collaboration with Royalty Network Inc, the event – originally known as the Grammy Certificate Ceremony – has been embraced by the industry since its inception in 2024.

On Tuesday, the honourees, in their acceptance speeches, took the time to thank the entities for recognising them with Grammy Certificates as well as the newly introduced British Phonographic Industry (BPI) discs for their hitherto unheralded roles in the making of beautiful music.

In addition to the bustling red carpet and delectable pre-show fare, the evening was defined by graciousness and gratitude, great performances and a delightful and educational interview, via video, with Ansel Collins. One half of the legendary duo with Dave Barker, Collins entered the history books as the first all-male duo to top the British National (Pop) Charts with Double Barrel. But it wasn’t as a singer that Collins was celebrated on Tuesday; he was awarded a BPI-certified Silver disc connected to Toots and The Maytals’ Pressure Drop.

“England is where I make it and break it ... I don’t fake it,” Collins said as he expressed how thrilled he was. The only lament, which he found the courage to laugh about, was reading the list of honourees for the Order of Distinction every year and not seeing his name.

The first recipient for the evening was Heather Cummings, who received a Grammy Certificate for background vocals on Beres Hammond’s One Love, One Life, which was nominated at the 56th Grammy in 2014. She thanked God, her family, Hammond – whom she affectionately referred to as Cudjoe – for bringing her into the studio at a tender age and believing in her, and producer Donovan Germain, who was in the audience.

Cummings’ acceptance speech set the tone for what unfolded as the awardees made their way to the stage and said their “thank yous”, or in the rare case of those who were unavoidably absent, a representative. Tony Gold, who was awarded a Grammy Certificate connected to Maxi Priest’s Fe Real, shared that he didn’t even remember that he had worked on that album; the England-based Sean ‘Seanie T’ Theobalds received two BPI-certified discs connected to Roots Manuva’s Brand New Second Hand and Run Come Save Me. He received thunderous applause when he confessed that it was the first award he was receiving in his life.

There was a light-hearted moment when the presenter was given the wrong envelope, and instead of announcing Glen Washington, he called Clevie Browne. However, the hosts quickly rectified the matter and saved the presenter from making the same error twice. Washington received Grammy Certificates for his contributions to Capleton’s Still Blazin’ and Third World’s Ain’t Givin’ Up.

Michael ‘Flourgon’ May was overjoyed to receive a BPI-certified 2x Platinum disc connected to Miley Cyrus’ We Can’t Stop, which sampled his iconic We Run Tings and led to a lawsuit that ended in a tidy settlement a few years ago.

“Mi buy a house and write ‘We Run Tings’ pon di gate,” Flourgon told the audience, answering one of the quiet questions about the settlement. He had come to celebrate and did so with a gospel song ringing with “ hallelujahs and praises” that he wrote for his mother.

Clevie Browne received three Grammy Certificates recognising his work as a producer, musician and drum programmer on Grammy-recognised projects, and he came with a message – “Keep supporting reggae music”. And, by the way, he will have to get a bigger wall, as there’s no more space on his wall for awards.

His late brother, Dalton Browne, was the night’s biggest recipient, with 11 Grammy Certificates and one BPI-certified Silver disc recognising guitar, production, composition and vocal contributions across projects by Beres Hammond, Buju Banton, Jimmy Cliff, Luciano, Wayne Wonder, and others. Dalton’s youngest daughter, Abisha, spoke on behalf of the family, noting that her father lives on through his music.

The late Gregory Isaacs earned seven Grammy Certificates and two BPI-certified Silver discs recognising his work as a performer, guest artiste and writer across several major reggae projects. His widow, June, was present to collect the awards, while Terence Wallen, who plays Isaacs in the musical, came all the way from England to do a tribute in song.

There was a special posthumous award for singer J. Capri, which was collected by her parents.

Making the list of 2026 recipients who collected in person were Dean Fraser, with two Grammy Certificates and three BPI-certified discs for his saxophone, horn and musical contributions to projects by Burning Spear, The Wailers Band, Lauryn Hill and Maxi Priest; Delly Ranx who received one BPI-certified 3x Platinum disc connected to Sean Paul’s Dutty Rock; Reggie Stepper with one BPI-certified Gold disc connected to Kanye West, Big Sean and Pusha T’s Mercy; Christopher Birch, with two Grammy Certificates and one BPI-certified 3x Platinum disc connected to projects by Bunny Wailer, Sean Paul and Shaggy; Ma-Isheeba with five BPI-certified discs, including four Silver discs, one Gold disc and one 2x Platinum disc, connected to internationally certified recordings; Neville Hinds, one BPI-certified Platinum disc connected to Paul Simon’s Negotiations and Love Songs 1971–1986; and Robert Livingston – two BPI-certified discs connected to Shaggy’s Hot Shot and Best of The Boombastic Collection. Richie Stephens, who also performed, received five Grammy Certificates and three BPI-certified discs connected to projects by Beenie Man, Bounty Killer, Rihanna, Drake and Soul II Soul.

Bringing the curtains down with a performance that sealed the excellence in the music was Agent Sasco, who was also the recipient of two Grammy Certificates and one BPI-certified Platinum disc connected to internationally recognised projects including Sean Paul’s Live N Livin and Kendrick Lamar’s To Pimp A Butterfly.

yasmine.peru@gleanerjm.com