Awards were greeted with loud applause from the thousands of patrons

In keeping with its long tradition of support for and the celebration of Jamaican music, iconic beer brand Red Stripe has awarded three of Jamaica’s most impactful voices, Beres Hammond, Buju Banton and Marcia Griffiths with the inaugural ‘Red Stripe Living Legend Award’.

The artistes were recognised at the January 1 Intimate Concert by Beres and Buju at Grizzly’s Plantation in St Ann.

“You are a living legend for all that you’ve done and the way you’ve supported the music locally and globally. Thank you for your contributions,” said Red Stripe Brand Manager Nathan Nelms, as he presented the award to Griffiths following her set on stage.

Similar presentations were later made to Hammond and Buju, whose given name is Mark Myrie. The awards were greeted with loud applause from the thousands of patrons who had travelled from far and wide to witness the one-of-a-kind performances.

Empress of Reggae Music

Griffiths, dubbed the ‘Empress of Reggae Music’, has been in the music business for almost 60 years, excelling both at the local and international level. Over the years, she has brought the world hits like Electric Boogie, All My Life, A Beer and a Girl and Truly, winning the hearts of many with her smooth and captivating voice.

She has collaborated with many other notable legends during her lengthy career, including reggae icon, Bob Marley when she performed as part of the I-Threes with Rita Marley and Judy Mowatt. Meanwhile, Hammond remains a cornerstone of the Jamaican music industry and his loyal and ever-expanding fan base stands as testimony.

His soulful voice has created timeless hits that reverberate across the world such as Rock Away, I Feel Good, They Gonna Talk, and Tempted to Touch. Just last year, he celebrated the 10th anniversary of his Grammy-nominated album One Love, One Life.

Buju set to release his 14th studio album

Impossible to exclude among Jamaica’s living legends is Buju Banton, who is gearing up to release his 14th studio album which is expected to complement the recent hits he’s been featured in such as These Streets Know My Name and Where You Come From, featuring DJ Khaled.

Other ageless hits include Destiny, Wanna Be Loved, Not an Easy Road and Driver which together with his Grammy award-winning album Before the Dawn in 2010, make up a tremendously successful discography.

“Red Stripe, I want to thank you very much for supporting us,” Banton said as he accepted the award. The beer company has been operating in Jamaica for more than 100 years during which it has actively supported the development of Jamaican music, including reggae and dancehall.

For 2023, the brand has already mapped out new and exciting ways to continue its support of Jamaica’s icons as well as up-and-coming talent in the local music and entertainment industries.