Sparrow Among Icons Honoured At Caribbean Music Awards

Last week, three Caribbean Music icons were honoured at the Caribbean Music Awards in Brooklyn, New York. The three were The Mighty Sparrow (Calypso), Alison Hinds (Soca) and Marcia Griffiths (Reggae). Several awards also went in the competitive categories to popular Caribbean artistes in Soca, Bouyon, Reggae, and Dancehall. Organisers singled out Sparrow, Hinds and Griffiths for contributing to Caribbean music and culture. The Mighty Sparrow, who was born in Grenada but made Trinidad his home, was given a Lifetime Achievement Award for his incomparable contribution to Calypso. Sparrow hailed as the king of Calypso, came on stage in a wheelchair and was later joined  by Machel Montano for an impromptu a cappella verse of the song “Congo Man.” The second awardee was Alison Hinds, who received the Elite Icon Award. The Barbadian singer did not speak but had someone deliver her remarks. “I’m happy to be a part of the fabric of our beautiful culture and that my contribution is being recognized with this wonderful award,” her statement said. The third honoree, Marcia Griffiths, was described by presenter Shaggy, as; “a real reggae royalty…a woman whose voice has become a timeless symbol of love, chemistry, morals and values and...