Avion Blackman and DJ Nicholas Tie with 12 Nominations Each Nassau, Bahamas: Trinidad and Tobago songbird Avion Blackman and Jamaican Dancehall artist DJ Nicholas has tied for the top nomination spot for this year’s Caribbean Gospel Music Marlin Awards with each receiving a whopping twelve (12) nominations. Avion is the now the second artist from Trinidad to receive this many nominations following Sherwin Gardner who in 2004 walked away with the most nominations in Marlin history, an astonishing twenty-two nominations. Avion, who is the daughter of the late Ras Shorty I, the man credited as the creator of Soca Music and the wife of Lion of Zion Entertainment CEO Mark Mohr has earned nominations for Reggae Recording of the Year, New Artist of the Year, Reggae Vocal Performance of the Year-Female and Song of the Year for her mid-tempo rootsy hit “I Love You Father". She is also nominated for Album of the Year for her culturally sensitive sonic gem “Onyinye”. Jamaican Dee-Jay and dancehall gospel artist DJ Nicholas scored big for his country with a quiver full of twelve (12) nominations this year including Reggae Vocal Performance of the Year Duo/Group, Dancehall Recording of the Year and Song of the Year for “Holy Ghost Church”, his international smash along with newcomer Kerron Ennis. Nicholas who is fresh from winning the Artist of the Year Award at the recently held Maja Awards in Kingston Jamaica is also one of the contenders for this year’s big prize, Album of the Year for his debut project “On the Shout”. Both Nicholas and Kerron are scheduled to perform at both Marlin Fest and Marlin Awards 06 as part of this year’s Marlin Weekend of Events. Bahamian Hip/Hop artist and Dunamus Sound records CEO Lavard “Manifest” Parks has also scored a big touch down for the Bahamas with an impressive eleven (11) nominations in various categories including Hip/Hop Recording of the Year and Hip/Hop Vocal Performance of the Year for his love anthem “Wherever You Go”, a song written and sung for his new bride at his recent wedding. Manifest also racked up multiple nominations in the Hip/Hop Recording and Vocal categories for his writing and vocal contributions to songs with other hip/hop acts including Miff (Hip/Hop Recording and Hip/ Hop Vocal Performance of the Year Duo/Group for the track “Taking it Back”) and with his own Dunamus Soundz Crew (Pop/Rock Recording of the Year, Hip/Hip Recording of the Year and Hip/Hop Vocal Performance of the Year Duo/Group for their mega rock anthem “Head Bangers (Bang Mix)-The Finale”). The former member of the hip/hop act Supernatural and two-time Marlin Award winner also makes history as one of the first nominees in the newly established Music Video of the Year category for his inspirational hip/hop original “I Surrender All”. Manifest also now holds the title for a Bahamian artist with the most nominations during an awards season breaking Terneille “Ta Da” Burrows 2004 record of ten (10) nominations. However Manifest has some good company for the journey ahead as one of the newest choir/praise teams to emerge in the Bahamas, Adrian Edgecombe and the Bahamas Harvest Church Choir make their Marlin Awards debut with some ten (10) nominations. The group received those nominations in several major categories including Praise & Worship Recording of the Year, Rake & Scrape Recording of the Year and Song of the Year for their Bahamian flavored hit “Lord I Love You” as well as “Album of the Year” for their Honeycomb Records debut “Rejoice”. Though the choir may be new to the Marlin experience, their front man, leader and principal songwriter Adrian Edgecombe is no stranger to the Marlins. Edgecombe won several top awards at the 2000 Marlin Awards. Several major past Marlin winners are also big nominees this year including Drum and Bass artist Stitchie who racked up a total of nine (9) nominations including Dancehall Recording of the Year, Dee-Jay Vocal Performance of the Year Solo, Music Video of the Year and Song of the Year for his fast spitting single “Fast &Pray”. He is also nominated for Producer of the Year, Packaging of the Year and Album of the Year for his sophomore project “Kingdom Ambassador”. Stitchie won some five (5) awards including Song and Album of the Year for his debut gospel CD “Real Power” at the 2002 Marlin Awards. Chevelle Franklin who also was a major Marlin Award past winner also received a total of nine (9) nominations including Reggae Recording of the Year, Song of the Year and Album of the Year for her latest disc “His Way”. Chevelle also joins Avion as being among now three women who has earned a Producer of the Year nomination for her production skills and creative direction on her album. Franklin won several top awards in 2002 and the Reggae Vocal Performance of the Year Female award in 2004. Reggae artist Mr.Lynx who once recorded under the Lion of Judah Sounds banner but now spearheads his own Zion I Records earned nine (9) nominations in several key categories including Dub/Culture Recording of the Year for his hit “Take Control”, Reggae Vocal Performance of the Year Solo for “Shine the Light” and Song of the Year for his contemporary flavored single “Hold Me In Your Arms”. The winner of the 1999 New Artist of the Year award he shared with then sonic partner Lisa Bonafyde Davis, Lynx is also nominated for Album of the Year for his second project “Prophetic Fire”. Coming in with seven (7) nominations is Belinda Telemaque or simply Belinda. Representing her country of birth of St.Thomas in the United States Virgin Islands, Belinda who was nominated in 2002 for a Marlin Award for her EP disc “Hang Tight”, received nominations this year in several key categories including Contemporary Recording of the Year (He Loves Me), Inspirational Recording of the Year and Song of the Year (Love Hung Him on the Cross) as well as Album of the Year (He Loves Me). Also receiving seven (7) nominations is Katalys Crew who is presently considered one of the hottest bands in Jamaica. The group managed to secure nominations in several key categories including Reggae Vocal Performance of the Year Duo/Group, Reggae Recording of the Year and Song of the Year all for their melodic hit “Only God’s Mercy”. Following close behind with six (6) nominations apiece is one of Jamaica’s newest faces Kerron Ennis and Bahamian dub minister Landlord who is enjoying a wave of international successes for his run away smash “We Need Peace” that features reggae superstar Luciano, dancehall artist Alkatraz and reggae newcomer Solo. Landlord and crew are nominated for several major awards including Dub/Culture Recording of the Year, Music Video of the Year and the prestigious Song of the Year award all for “We Need Peace”. Young Kerron Ennis is smiling brightly with her six (6) nominations, some for her EP release and others for her work with DJ Nicholas on the hit “Holy Ghost Church” which is nominated for Dancehall Recording of the Year, Reggae Vocal Performance of the Year Duo/Group and Song of the Year. Kerron scored nominations for her own work in the Reggae Vocal Performance of the Year Female and Reggae Recording of the Year categories for her single “God is By Our Side”. Another young nominee this year is Talbert Williams, the Bahamian high school student who holds the title as the first ever winner of the Marlin Awards Talent Search competition which was introduced in 2004. Now as a first time recording artist Talbert earned five (5) nominations including New Artist, Contemporary Recording of the Year, Inspirational Recording, Contemporary Vocal Performance of the Year Male and Song of the Year all of his hit single “Living the Dream”. Female artists from various countries have made a strong showing this year with major nominations including Bahamian newcomer singer/songwriter Mizpah Bethel whose debut single has earned her four (4) nominations including New Artist of the Year and Contemporary Recording of the Year for her single “Down to the River”. Another female artist earning four (4) nominations is Jamaican folk singer/songwriter Glacia Robinson, whose inspirational song of courage “Survivor” earned her nominations for Contemporary Vocal Performance of the Year Female, Pop/Rock Recording of the Year, Inspirational Recording of the Year and Contemporary Recording of the Year. Several veteran recording artists have also received nominations this year including Glory Music Recording artist Carlene Davis with four (4) nominations including one for Reggae Vocal Performance of the Year Female for the title track of her latest CD “Rock Me Jesus”. Former Grace Thrillers lead singer Shirley Willis is nominated for three (3) nominations and former secular dancehall dee-jay Shelly Thunder who is now blasting harder than ever for the Kingdom of God is also nominated in two (2) categories including Dancehall Recording of the Year for “The Devil Get Kuff”, a remake of her secular hit “Everybody Get Kuff”. The men are not to be counted out as past multiple Marlin winners like Sherwin Gardner bounces back with five (5) nominations including Calypso Recording of the Year for his heart pacing single “Under We Feet” featuring Soca dynamo Jadee. St.Maarten native and Nashville based singer/songwriter Paul Fleming snagged four (4) nominations including Calypso/Soca Recording of the Year for his single “Sing Hallelujah” and Jamaican native Carlington Roberts also earned four (4) nominations including one for Inspirational Recording of the Year for his hit single “I’m Gonna Soar” Bless aka Prodigal Son is once again going to be a Marlin Award contender walking away with four (4) nominations including Music Video of the Year (The Cross), Dee-Jay Vocal Performance of the Year Duo/Group for “World Changer” featuring Jason Mighty and one for International Caribbean Collaboration of the Year for the song “Ghetto Redemption with Canadian reggae artist Jah Pickney. Master Travis Finlay, one of this year’s youngest nominees round things out with three (3) nominations including one for Contemporary Vocal Performance of the Year Male for the international smash “I Can Only Imagine” made popular by the contemporary Christian pop group Mercy Me. Several notable nominations include Monty G (3 Nominations), Sister Sharon Dyer (3 Nominations), Lester Lewis (2 Nominations) and Judah Praise who earned two (2) nominations for their Calypso/Soca smash “Hoorah for Jesus”. Also receiving two (2) nominations each are Sista Michelle, Ingrid Tracy, Lynette White and female trio Voices of Jhoy. For a complete list of this year’s Marlin Nominees visit the awards official website at www.marlinawards.com. The Marlin Awards will celebrate its 10th Anniversary this coming July during Marlin Weekend 2006 scheduled for July 20-23. The weekend will include a series of events including the Global Gospel Music Summit which will be held on Thursday July 20th and will continue with the Global Gospel Music Summit Workshops on Friday morning July 21st. During the evening of July 21st, the 2nd Marlin Fest, which is the concert version of the Marlin Awards, will be held at the Diplomat Center. On Saturday July 22nd, there will be a special 10th Anniversary party and concert showcase. The weekend will end with the staging of the 8th Caribbean Gospel Music Marlin Awards which will also be held at the Diplomat Center. This year, awards will be distributed in some fifty-two categories including the prestigious Song and Album of the Year awards. If you have any questions please feel free to contact Harris Communications at 242-325-1615 or email us at marlinawards@gmail.com or visit us at www.marlinawards.com |