In a powerful celebration of reggae and dancehall’s global impact, legendary producers Steely & Clevie, vocal powerhouse Romain Virgo, saxophonist and arranger Dean Fraser, and acclaimed music executive Robert Livingston are among the honourees for the 2025 Grammy Certificate Ceremony. Set for September 13 at the Audi Showroom in Kingston, the red-carpet affair promises to be a landmark moment for Jamaica’s music fraternity, offering long-overdue recognition to the creative minds behind Grammy-winning and Grammy-nominated albums. The honouree list also features Chevelle Franklyn, Tony Rebel, Ansel Collins, Lloyd ‘Gitsy’ Willis, and T.O.K., whose collective work has defined reggae and dancehall across generations.
This year’s staging marks a double milestone — the 40th anniversary of the Grammy Award for Best Reggae Album, first introduced in 1985, and the celebration of four decades of Steely & Clevie Productions, the iconic duo credited with shaping the sonic architecture of modern dancehall and influencing genres as far-reaching as reggaeton. “Behind every iconic reggae and dancehall Grammy win is a team of creative geniuses whose names the world rarely hears,” said Kennedy Mensah, CEO of Back 2 Da Future Music Ltd., the event’s organizer. “This ceremony ensures those who built the sound of generations are finally seen and celebrated.”
Backed by strategic partnerships with The Royalty Network Inc. — a top U.S. music publishing firm representing over 700,000 works — and the legendary Steely & Clevie Productions, the event elevates its mission to spotlight the producers, engineers, and musicians whose contributions have too often gone unacknowledged. “This overdue recognition is not just about awards and nominations, it’s a celebration of legacy, culture, and the soul of reggae,” noted Frank Liwall, President of The Royalty Network Inc.
More than 250 key players from Jamaica’s music and entertainment landscape are expected to attend, including artists, industry leaders, and creatives. The evening will include a red carpet media rollout, cocktail reception, and a global livestream, bringing international attention to the unsung architects of reggae’s success.
Established by Back 2 Da Future Music Ltd., a London-based company with a deep focus on Caribbean music rights and royalties, the Grammy Certificate Ceremony serves as a cultural corrective — a formal platform that ensures the creators behind the hits receive their rightful recognition. Following the success of its 2024 debut, this year’s event is poised to amplify reggae’s legacy while rewriting the narrative around who gets remembered in music history.
