Complete 2010 Winners List

Nassau, Bahamas. Jamaican gospel reggae recording artist Jermaine Edwards has emerged as the top winner for the 2010 Caribbean Gospel Marlin Awards. Edwards won a total of five (5) awards including the two most prestigious, Song of the Year for his mid-tempo reggae smash “Make You Smile” and Album of the Year for his sophomore project “Destiny”. Edwards also won the Reggae Vocal Performance of the Year-Male (Make You Smile), Engineered Recording of the Year (Destiny) and Producer of the Year for his production work on his “Destiny” album and on Judith Gayle’s full length disc “Designed to Worship”.

Following close behind with four (4) Marlin Awards each is Bahamian reggae artist and Lion of Judah Sounds CEO Monty G and Trinidad & Tobago gospel Soca Ambassador Nigel Lewis. Monty G led the 2010 nomination season with a whopping twenty (20) nominations and successfully scored four(4) awards including one for Dancehall Recording of the Year for “World Domination”, which is also the title track of his latest CD. This is a significant win for Monty as this will mark the first time since the awards were fully integrated in 2002 that a Bahamian reggae artist has ever won Dancehall Recording of the Year. Monty also won DJ Vocal Performance of the Year-Duo/Group (Real Superman-Remix) with DJ Counsellor & Papa San, Reggae/Pop Recording of the Year (Freedom) with Jaynelle and as a Producer with DJ Frost for Compilation Album of the Year (Streetlight Mixtape Vol.4).

Nigel Lewis won several major awards including Soca Recording of the Year for “Good Time Praise”, Calypso/ Soca Vocal Performance of the Year-Duo/Group for “Walk Away”, Adapted Praise & Worship Recording of the Year for “Empty Me” and Adapted Calypso/Soca recording of the super hit and concert favorite “Jump”. Neo-soul artist Russell Leonce also from Trinidad walked away with three (3) awards including Contemporary Vocal Performance of the Year-Male for “L.I.V.E”, Adapted Contemporary Recording of the Year for “Smile” and Packaging of the Year for debut disc “Culture of Love”.

Reggae freshman Joel Murray aka Positive was crowned New Artist of the Year and also won the Dub Recording of the Year award for his mega hit “Never Let Go”, which is also the title track of his Lion of Judah Sounds debut disc. Bahamian Rake & Scrape artist Simeon Outten also won two (2) awards this year including Rake & Scrape Recording of the Year for “I Want to Know” and Junkanoo Recording of the Year for “Thank God for Mama” featuring Avvy Mortimer. Also walking away with two (2) awards was hip-hop artist Najie Dunn who won the award for Hip-Hop Recording of the Year for his single “Hype Music” and Hip-Hop Vocal Performance of the Year-Duo/Group for “Talk About It” featuring Iceberg. Another hip-hop artist also scored big, Ricardo Forbes aka Mr.Beeds, won his first two (2) Marlin Awards for Music Video of the Year-Solo for “Aaa Choo” and Hip-Hop Sung Collaboration of the Year for “Never Knew” featuring R&B artist Sammi Star.

Former Miss Bahamas Richa Sands captured two (2) more Marlin Awards to add to her mantle of wins including Adapted Junkanoo/Rake & Scrape Recording of the Year (Tis So Sweet) and Junkanoo/Rake & Scrape Vocal Performance of the Year (Revival In My Soul). Bahamian choir Shaback won the award for Choir/Chorale Recording of the Year for the track “Double Doors”, which was also nominated for Song of the Year. This was a special win for the Nassau based group who dedicated their award to Lavard Curtis, a keyboard player for the group and the individual who also mixed their latest live double CD effort “This Is it!. Lavard and the project’s co-engineer Clarence “Nat” Williams died in a fatal airplane crash on October 5th along with seven other men. Both men were honored along with three (3) other well deserving Bahamians with a posthumous National Contribution Award for their contribution towards the development and advancement of Bahamian and Caribbean Gospel Music.

Taking home one (1) award each was Trinidad & Tobago songbirds Avion Blackman (Contemporary Vocal Performance of the Year-”Sweet Life”) and Dixie Ann Hunte Blackman (Calypso/Soca Vocal Performance of the Year-Female-”On Course”). Also winning one (1) award this year was sister/sister outfit Jumelle (formerly the Johnson Sisters from St.Maarten) who won Contemporary Vocal Performance of the Year-Duo/Group for their inspirational anthem “In All That I Do”. Soca artist Emrand Henry from St.Lucia won the award for Calypso/Soca Vocal Performance of the Year-Male for “Dis Year” and Jamaican Praise & Worship recording artist Kevin Downswell won Praise & Worship Recording of the Year for his major hit single “Close to You”. Bahamian newcomer Pastor Terrance Forbes won his first Marlin Award for Traditional Recording of the Year for his powerful debut single “Plead the Blood” and veteran Jamaican reggae artist Carlene Davis won Reggae Vocal Performance-Female for the track “After All I’ve Been Through” from her latest CD “True Worship”. Another new artist won his first Marlin Award; Safros Joseph from St. Lucia won the award for Pop/Rock Recording of the Year for his acoustic driven single “Your Splendor”. One of the biggest wins came from Bahamian reggae newcomer Ricardo Clarke who made history by becoming the second non-Jamaican and first Bahamian to win Reggae Recording of the Year for his global smash “Not Settling”. Sherwin Gardner from Trinidad & Tobago won this category in 2004 for his single “I Worship You”.

American R&B duo Be Be & Ce Ce Winans also won their first Marlin Award for International Caribbean Recording of the Year for the track “He Can Handle It”, a reggae/pop infused single featured on their latest CD “Still”. American reggae outfit Christafari has once again won the International Caribbean Album of the Year award, this time for their latest project “No Compromise”.

Winners were announced during the 2010 Marlin Awards which were held on Saturday October 30th at the Diplomat Center in Nassau, Bahamas. The Marlin Awards are designed to honor outstanding achievement in Caribbean Gospel Music. There were more than two-hundred (200) artists participating representing fifteen (15) countries including Africa, Bahamas, Canada, Guyana, Hawaii, Jamaica, Trinidad & Tobago, Tortola BVI, St.Croix USVI, St.Kitts, St.Lucia, St.Maarten, St.Thomas USVI, St.Vincent and the Grenadines and the United States.

The Marlin Awards was the final event during Marlin Weekend 2010 which was held from October 28-30th. The three (3) day weekend featured Marlin Summit, Marlin Industry Workshops & Luncheon, Marlin Fest, and the Caribbean Gospel Music Marlin Awards. The Marlin Awards is produced by Harris Media Group, a Bahamas based marketing, media and production firm. For more information contact Harris Media Group at 242-676-6719 or visit the awards website at www.marlinawards.com.

This highly anticipated weekend of events will include Marlin Summit, Marlin Industry Workshops, Marlin Industry Luncheon, Marlin Fest and the hosting of the Caribbean Gospel Music Marlin Awards.

Come and hear dynamic speakers, jump up & wave to the sweet pulsating sound of Caribbean riddims, network with other recording artists, media executives, journalists, radio & television personalities and be in the house live to see which of your favorite artists will walk away with a Marlin Award this year.

For additional information on all events and ticket prices email us at marlinawards@gmail.com or contact Harris Media Group at 242-676-6719.

Isaac Blackman, The Prodigal Son and Mt.Tabor Praise & Worship Ministry Are Top Winners at Marlin Awards 2009

March 30^th 2009 (Nassau, Bahamas): Trinidad & Tobago Native Isaac Blackman had lots of reason to jump up to the ceiling during the 2009 Marlin Awards held on Sunday March 29^th at the Diplomat Center in Nassau, Bahamas. Isaac walked or danced away with the most awards that night, emerging with a total of four (4) Marlin Awards including New Artist of the Year, Ethnic Recording of the Year, Music Video of the Year-Solo and one of the evening’s top prizes, Song of the Year, all of his global mega hit “To the Ceiling”. Due to several circumstances Isaac was not in attendance, however his sister Avion Blackman was on hand to accept the awards on behalf of her little brother.

Jamaican gospel dancehall recording artist The Prodigal Son won three (3) awards including the most prestigious prize of the night, Album of the Year for his double-disc opus “Songs From My Midnight / Break of the Day”. He also won the award for Dub Recording of the Year for “Bongo Town” and Dee-Jay Vocal Performance of the Year Duo/Group for “Ketch A Fire” featuring his brother Jason Mighty.

Bahamian Praise & Worship team, The Mount Tabor Praise & Worship Ministry also won three (3) Marlin Awards including one for Adapted Praise & Worship Recording of the Year for their remake of the contemporary worship anthem “Amazed” and another for Praise & Worship Recording of the Year for their original hit single “Don’t Do It Without Me” featuring world renowned pastor/author and recording artist Bishop Paul S.Morton

Mount Tabor also made history by becoming the recipients of the first ever Record of the Year Award, one of two online voting categories introduced by the Marlin Awards this year and coordinated and managed by Jamaican media personality Arnold Kelly & his Caribbean Hour organization. Bahamian Classical singer JoAnn Callender took home three (3) awards including one for Special Event Recording of the Year for her Jazz inspired Christmas single “Silent Night”. She also won two awards along with Manifest for the Hip/Hop meets opera smash “I Shall Rise”.

Other top winners included new recording artist Kristine Alicia who took home two (2) awards including Reggae Vocal Performance of the Year-Female and Artist of the Year, the second online voting award where the consumers and lovers of Caribbean Gospel got a chance to cast their votes for the first time. Simeon Outten also won two (2) awards including Rake & Scrape Vocal Performance of the Year and Traditional Recording of the Year for “Thank You”, a testimonial record about how he and his family overcame the lost of their home and personal belongings following a major hurricane several years ago. Hip/Hop artist and CEO of Dunamus Soundz Records, Manifest won for Hip/Hop Recording of the Year and Hip/Hop Sung Collaboration for his rap meets opera sensational smash “I Shall Rise” that features the stunning vocals of Bahamian Classical singer JoAnn Callender.

Also taking home two (2) awards this year was Mr. Kingdom Ambassador himself Stitchie winning Dancehall Recording of the Year-Solo for “Lord Almighty” and Packaging of the Year for his latest CD “Real Life Story”. African born/London based urban foursome Four Kornerz won their first two (2) Marlin Awards, one for Contemporary Recoding of the Year for “Gonna Make It” and the other in the technical category for Engineered Recording of the Year for their excellent production work on their debut CD” Soulectric”.

Other top award winners included Omari (Reggae Recording of the Year-”Help”), Monty G featuring Trinidad reggae singer Positive (Reggae Vocal Performance of the Year-Duo-”I Want to Know”), Christian Massive (Junkanoo Recording of the Year-”Create”), Toronto Mass Choir (Adapted Caylso Recording of the Year-”Heavens Medley”), Sean Daniel (Soca Recording of the Year-”Di Real Ting”), DJ Nicholas-Dancehall Recording of the Year -”Back to the Owner”), CJ (Jazz Recording of the Year-”I See Love”), Marvia Providence (Calypso/Soca Vocal Performance of the Year-Female-”Rock of Ages”), Troy Anthony (Reggae Vocal Performance of the Year-Male-”Rise Up”) and Gotee Recording Artist Ayiesha (Pop/Rock Recording of the Year-”Happy”). The late Jamaican gospel dancehall artist Kasim ‘Moses’ Grant also won a posthumous award for Culture Recording of the Year for his single “Feels It, Knows It”.

Including Moses (1980-2009), the Marlin Awards also took time out to acknowledge the contributions of several other artists who have passed on since the staging of the last awards in 2006 including the late Jamaican female artist Sister Sharon Dyer-Sharpe (1962-2007), Bahamian hip/hop artist and Monty G’s brother Rashad “Mista” Green (1977-2007) and Bahamian reggae singer and songwriter Lawrence Daxon (1970-2009).

The Rev.Arthur Preacher Rolle Lifetime Achievement Award was presented to Bahamian legendary group “The Elevations” and The President’s Award was given to veteran gospel DJ, sound and broadcast engineer Darnell Forde aka Psalms 150 DJ for his invaluable contribution towards the development and growth of Caribbean Gospel Music.

The Marlin Awards are produced by Harris Communications and are held bi-annually in Nassau, Bahamas. For more information contact Harris Communications at 242-327-1251. You can also email them at marlinawards@gmail.com or visit them online at www.marlinawards.com and www.myspace.com/marlinawards.

Nassau, Bahamas. (Jan.12, 2009) The Executive Board of the Marlin Awards officially announced the introduction of two (2) new categories, Artist of the Year and Record of the Year. The inclusion of these two new awards will increase the total amount of award categories this year from fifty-eight (58) to Sixty (60). However unlike most award categories, the two newest categories will also serve as the first ever online Marlin Awards. For the first time in Marlin history, consumers and lovers of Caribbean Gospel will have a chance to vote for the Artist and Record of their choice.

The Marlin Awards has partnered with Jamaican radio personality and media executive Arnold Kelly and his firm Caribbean Hour to create this first ever online opportunity. Caribbean Hour will design and facilitate the voting process on their website www.caribbeanhour.com with visitors to the site being allowed to see photos of all nominees as well listen to audio clips of their nominated singles. Voting will commence on Saturday February 1^st, 2009 and will be closed at midnight on Saturday February 28^th, 2009. There will be only one vote per person.

The Executive Board of the Marlin Award is now pleased to announce the official nominees for the first ever online categories. Lion of Judah Sounds CEO and reggae gospel recording artist Monty G has received an additional two (2) nominations, one for Artist of the Year and the other for Record of the Year for his international hit “I Want to Know” featuring Trinidad & Tobago newcomer Positive. This increases Monty’s overall nomination count from eleven (11) to thirteen (13), allowing him to maintain his position as this years top nominee.

Jamaican gospel dancehall artist The Prodigal Son also secured an additional two (2) nominations for Artist of the Year and Record of the Year for his mega hit “Ketch A Fire” featuring his younger brother and recording artist Jason Mighty. This increases Prodigal’s overall nominations from Ten (10) to Twelve (12). Also securing an additional two (2) nominations is Stitchie who emerged as the 2006 overall top award recipient. Dancehall newcomer Omari also scored big, adding two (2) more nominations to his current three (3) for Artist and Record of the Year for this worldwide smash “Help”, which recently enjoyed several weeks as the top music video on the Caribbean television channel Tempo.

Trinidad offspring Isaac Blackman has also walked away with two (2) more nominations including Record of the Year for his chart topping global sensation “To the Ceiling”. Also from Trinidad, Soca maestro Nigel Lewis also earned two (2) additional nominations including Record of the Year for his cross cultural anthem “He Is”.

Picking up an additional one (1) nomination apiece in the Artist of the Year category is Jamaican songbird Kristine Alicia, Bahamian reggae duo Christian Massive, gospel dancehall artist St.Matthew and Gotee Records recording artist and Grammy Nominee Ayiesha.

In the Record of the Year category several artists emerged with one (1) nomination each including Bahamian classical singer JoAnn Callendar and Dunamus Soundz Records CEO Manifest for their opera meets hip-hop smash “I Shall Rise” as well as Bahamian choir, The Mount Tabor Praise & Worship Team with their passionate worship single “Don’t Do It Without Me” featuring world renowned pastor and singer Bishop Paul S.Morton. Rounding out this category is Trinidad & Tobago’s female artist Ayanna who snatched another nomination for her female inspired anthem “Kingdom Woman” and dancehall ghetto priest Minister Goddy Goddy who secured another nomination for his sensational hit “Chaka Chi”, which increases his overall nominations from one (1) to two (2).

The Marlin Awards will serve as the final event during Marlin Weekend 2009 which is scheduled to be held March 26-29, 2009 in Nassau, Bahamas under the banner “Gospel in Paradise”. This event is expected to attract hundreds of recording artists, songwriters, producers, managers, retailers, radio announcers and music fans from throughout the Caribbean as well as from the United States, Africa, Canada and Europe.

Nominations were recently announced in the remaining fifty-eight (58) categories including Song and Album of the Year. This highly anticipated event will be taped for re-broadcast and will also feature performances by some of the regions top gospel artists. There are over two hundred (200) artists participating in the Marlin Awards this year representing seventeen (17) countries including Africa, Antigua, The Bahamas, Barbados, Belize, Bermuda, Canada, Dominica, Fiji, Jamaica, London, Trinidad, Tortola BVI, St.Croix, St.Maarten, St.Vincent and the United States

For additional information contact Harris Communications at 242-327-1251. You can also email us at marlinawards@gmail.com or visit us online at www.marlinawards.com or www.myspace.com/marlinawards.

Here is a complete list of all nominees in the Artist of the Year and Record of the Year categories:

Artist of the Year

Record of the Year

Nassau, Bahamas (June 9^th 2008):The official nominations for the 2008 Marlin Awards were announced on Friday May 30^th during a special Marlin Nomination concert held at the Diplomat Center in Nassau, Bahamas. This highly anticipated event was hosted by Jamie Thomas of Tempo’s Rise & Shine gospel TV show and featured show stopping performances from Heath Fowler & The Final Hour Mass Choir, The Rahming Brothers, Platinum Souljahz, Alas, Christian Massive, Charles Drake and CMA, Manifest, Simeon Outten, DJ Counsellor and Demetrius Stubbs. The three hour long event ended with a pulsating performance from gospel Soca sensation Nigel Lewis who brought the house to its feet with his radio hits ‘He Is”, “Naked You Come, Naked You Go” and a sanctified version of his older hit “Follow the Leader”..

Lion of Judah CEO Ramont “Monty G” Green emerged as this years Marlin Awards top nominee with a whopping eleven (11) nominations including one for Song of the Year (Live in Love) and Album of the Year (Along Life’s Road). As a solo artist Monty received eight (8) nominations and earned an additional three (3) for this involvement as leader and member of the Lion’s Pride. However close behind with an impressive ten (10) nominations is Jamaican gospel dancehall artist Calvin Whilby aka The Prodigal Son who managed to bounce back hard this year with a Dannie Brownie produced double disc opus, “Songs from My Midnight-The Break of Day” to gain a sizeable amount of nominations after a disappointing showing during the 2006 Marlin Awards. Prodigal managed to secure nominations in just about every reggae or dancehall category and also earned a spot on the Album of the Year and Song of the Year nomination lists for his international smash “Ketch A Fire” which features his brother Jason Mighty. .

Bahamian reggae outfit Christian Massive snagged the third spot with a total of nine (9) nominations including Junkanoo Recording of the Year (Create), Soca Recording of the Year (Rag Flag) and one for Album of the Year (Di Hook). Considered one of Trinidad’s top gospel artists Isaac Blackman emerged with a total of seven (7) nominations including New Artist of the Year, Song of the Year and Music Video of the Year (Solo) for his global anthem “To the Ceiling”, which dominated the music video charts for several weeks on the regions’ premier music channel, Tempo.

Five (5) artists secured seven (7) nominations each including Bahamian male vocal sensation Vision, whose first full length CD”Introspection” was nominated for Album of the Year. The group was also nominated for Music Video of the Year (Duo/Group) for their single “Brand New World” which was written and originally recorded by world renowned speaker and author Dr. Myles Munroe. Also walking away with seven (7) nominations is female reggae artist Kristine Alicia who was successful in being nominated in a number of key categories including New Artist of the Year, Music Video of the Year (Solo) and Album of the Year for her debut disc “Get Ready”. Past Marlin winner Marvia Providence who now resides in Canada also received seven (7) nominations including Calypso/Soca Vocal Performance of the Year (Female) and one in the newly introduced “Live CD Recording of the Year” category for her latest project “Thank You”. Gospel Soca giant Nigel Lewis also walked away with seven (7) nominations including one for Producer of the Year for his production work on his album (Unlock the Block) and Kristine Alicia’s debut CD “Get Ready”. Lewis who is famed for his earlier secular Soca hits like “Follow the Leader” and “Moving to the Left” was also nominated for Song of the Year for his smash “He Is”.

Rounding out the list with seven (7) nominations as well is the all male urban machinery known as Four Kornerz, a group of four brothers who hail originally from Africa but now call London home. The groups debut disc “Soulectric” was nominated in the Album of the Year and Engineered Recording of the Year categories with their R&B laced dance single “Gonna Make It” clearing the way for nominations in the New Artist of the Year and the Contemporary Recording and Pop/Rock Recording of the Year categories.

Minister Denzcil Rolle & COGIBINC Mass Youth Choir and Bishop Neil C.Ellis Presents the Mount Tabor Praise & Worship Ministry each secured six (6) nominations. The Mount Tabor Praise & Worship Ministry is a member of the International Full Gospel group of churches which is lead by Bishop Paul.S Morton who is featured on the single “Don’t Do It without Me”, nominated this year in the Praise & Worship Recording of the Year category. Also hitting the six (6) nomination mark is up & coming male reggae singer Troy Anthony who hails from Bermuda. Troy’s debut disc “Rise Up” opened the door for nominations in the New Artist of the Year, Reggae Recording of the Year (Rise Up) and the newly established Culture Recording of the Year category for his single “Trample” featuring Bahamian reggae artist Reubin Heights.

2006 Producer of the Year award winner Stitchie received five (5) nominations including Song of the Year, Dancehall Recording of the Year and Dee-Jay Vocal Performance of the Year (Solo) all for his fast spitting hit single “Lord Almighty”. Stitchie was also successful in being nominated for Album of the Year and Packaging of their Year for Real Life Story, the follow up disc to his multi-award winning album “Kingdom Ambassador” which earned him a total of four Marlin Awards, the highest amount presented in 2006.

Gotee Records recording artist Ayiesha was nominated for four (4) awards including Pop/Rock Recording, Contemporary Vocal Female and Song of the Year for her hit single “Happy”. Ayiesha along with Gotee Records CEO and former DC Talk front man Toby Mac also received a nomination for International Collaboration of the Year for their power rock single “Big Enough”. This will Mark the first Marlin Award nomination for Toby Mac. Ayiesha won several Marlins in 2004 including Producer of the Year, the first for any female artist and she was also nominated for a Grammy Award in 2007.

Also scoring two nominations in the International Collaboration of the Year category is US based reggae band Christafari whose principal vocalist & chief songwriter is Mark Mohr, CEO of gospelreggae.com, the world’s largest distributor of Gospel reggae music. Mark & Co was nominated along with Imisi for the single “Forward” and for “Triumphal Entry “featuring Sherwin Gardner & Mr. Lynx.

Awards will be presented in over fifty categories including Song and Album of the Year during the 2008 Caribbean Gospel Music Marlin Awards which are scheduled to be held on Sunday October 26th, 2008 in Nassau, Bahamas. The Marlin Awards will be held during Marlin Weekend 2008 which will also feature Marlin Summit and Workshops as well as the Caribbean Gospel Music Marlin Fest. All events will be held October 23-26 2008 in Nassau, Bahamas. For additional information contact Harris Communications at 242- 327-1251 or email them at marlinawards@gmail.com or visit them online at www.marlinawards.com or www.myspace.com/marlinawards.