Culture Minister Olivia Grange was on hand to personally award iconic reggae recording artiste Leroy Sibbles with a framed copy of the citation accompanying his Jamaica Music Icon Award last week.

Sibbles, recognised as Jamaica’s ‘King of the Bassline’, previously received the award at the Independence Day Grand Gala in August.

The award recognises his work in promoting the growth and popularity of Jamaican music across the globe. The citation recalled that Sibbles’ “groundbreaking work was seminal in laying the foundation for modern reggae.”

His bass lines were used by numerous artistes in music that made them stars. He became the regular bassist at Studio One recording studio.

It said, “Leroy did not just play music, he crafted it, and his influence continues to resonate around the globe.” Sibbles, who hailed from Trench Town, was a founding member of the Heptones group at age 16. The Heptones’ recordings such as ‘Fatty, Fatty‘ and ‘Ting-a Ling‘ were hits.

He attended Kingston Senior School and St Stephens College.