Three of Jamaica’s most influential musical architects are set to receive their flowers on the international stage. Legendary drummer and producer Sly Dunbar, roots reggae icon Leroy Sibbles and dancehall hitmaker Mr. Vegas will be honoured with Lifetime Achievement Awards next month in Florida, as Reggae Genealogy celebrates the global reach and cultural impact of Jamaican music across film, television and popular culture.
The honours will be presented on Saturday, February 7, 2026, at the Island SPACE Caribbean Museum during Reggae Genealogy: Lights. Camera. Reggae. The immersive audiovisual experience explores how reggae and its offshoots have shaped storytelling in Hollywood and international media, from classic films to major television franchises and even video games. The event takes place at Volunteer Park in Plantation, Florida, with gates opening at 4:00 PM and showtime at 6:00 PM.
At the centre of the celebration are three artists whose careers span generations. Sly Dunbar, one half of the groundbreaking duo Sly & Robbie, revolutionised reggae, dub and dancehall after emerging in the late 1960s as a prodigious teenage drummer. His innovative rhythms have influenced pop, rock and hip-hop globally. Leroy Sibbles, best known as the lead singer and bassist of The Heptones, helped define Jamaica’s classic reggae sound through timeless harmonies and socially conscious songwriting, while also shaping Studio One’s legacy behind the scenes as a musical director and arranger.
Representing dancehall’s global era, Mr. Vegas rose in the mid-1990s with a distinctive voice and high-energy style that delivered international hits and crossover success. Over time, he evolved beyond chart-topping singles into entrepreneurship, advocacy and media, cementing his place as one of dancehall’s most enduring and adaptable figures. The night will also feature live performances from Leroy Sibbles, Tifa, Bobby Rose, Phil Watkis and Roy G, backed by Code Red Band, with more acts to be announced.
