Dancehall artiste Mr Vegas, veteran producers Robert Livingston and Michael Anthony Bennett, and the late ska, rocksteady and reggae pioneer Stranger Cole are among nine members of Jamaica’s entertainment industry selected to receive National Honours and Awards this year. While Livingston, acclaimed guitarist Earl ‘Chinna’ Smith and other industry stalwarts are being recognised for decades of service, Cole will receive a posthumous honour just months after his passing, honouring a legacy that helped shape the foundation of Jamaican music.
The honours, announced as part of this year’s National Honours and Awards list, recognise outstanding contributions across Jamaica’s cultural landscape. Mr Vegas, whose catalogue has helped define modern dancehall for more than two decades, will receive the Order of Distinction (Officer) for his contribution to reggae music. Livingston, widely respected for his work as a producer and music executive, is also being honoured with the Order of Distinction (Officer) for his contribution to the music industry both locally and internationally. Music executive Michael Anthony Bennett and legendary guitarist Earl ‘Chinna’ Smith will receive the same distinction for their longstanding impact on Jamaica’s music industry, while Stranger Cole is being recognised posthumously for his pioneering role in the development of ska, rocksteady and reggae.
Four additional entertainment practitioners will also receive the Badge of Honour for Meritorious Service. They are Herman Constantine ‘Bongo’ Davis for his contribution to Jamaican music and culture, Shirley Deloris Findley-Willis for her contribution to gospel music in Jamaica, Larry McDonald for service to the field of entertainment, and Carlyle Palmer for helping expand the reach of Jamaican music in the United Kingdom through Jet Star Music. Together, the nine honourees represent generations of talent whose work has influenced Jamaican music at home and abroad.
The entertainment figures are among 140 Jamaicans selected to receive National Honours and Awards this year. Recipients will be officially invested during the annual National Honours and Awards Ceremony at King’s House on National Heroes Day, celebrating individuals whose contributions have left a lasting mark on Jamaica’s culture, music and national development.
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