THREE veteran artists were lauded at the Bob Marley One Love Football Charity Match held at the Harbour View Mini-Stadium in St Andrew, on Ash Wednesday. The singers are Max Romeo and Burning Spear, while a posthumous award went to the late Sugar Minott. Organiser Clive ‘Busy’ Campbell said the recipients were well deserving of the honor.
“The committee decided on those gentlemen… Max Romeo recently celebrated his 70th birthday and his 50th year in music business. Burning Spear is known for his conscious music, while Sugar Minott is one of dancehall’s finest singers,” Campbell told the Jamaica Observer. The presentations were made in-between the football matches during the day. Dancehall singer Tony Curtis collected the plaque on behalf of roots-reggae singer Max Romeo, footballer Michael ‘Jah Mikes’ Williams received the award on behalf of Burning Spear, while Pashon Minott collected the award on behalf of her late father.
Romeo is known for his timeless hits Let the Power Fall, War Inna Babylon and One Step Forward, which earned him a cult-like following throughout Europe. Two-time Grammy winner Burning Spear’s Marcus Garvey is an enduring classic. His other hits including Rocking Time, Foggy Road, Door Peep and Ethiopians Live It Out.
Campbell shared his insights on Sugar Minott. “I took ‘Sugar’ on his first tour in New York with Black Uhuru and singer Joy White. He performed on the Ken Williams Show at Hunter College,” he said. A prolific songwriter and singer, Sugar Minott is known for such anthems as Herbsman Hustling, Mr DC, House is not a Home, No Vacancy, Good Thing Going and Never Gonna Give Up Jah.
He died in July 2010. Started 34 years ago, the proceeds of this year’s Bob Marley One Love Football Charity Match will go towards the Albert Street Basic School in Franklyn Town and the Portmore Basic School in St Catherine. — Brian Bonitto
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