Reggae singer Gramps Morgan, an original member of GRAMMY Award-winning reggae group Morgan Heritage, was honored with a City Council Citation from Chi Ossé, Council Member for New York City’s 36th District, representing Bedford-Stuyvesant and North Crown Heights, for his philanthropic work and for being a global ambassador of reggae.
“To be recognized by the city of my birth was unreal,” Gramps told Caribbean Life last weekend. “There’s many things that we have accomplished as a family that I am proud of, but to be recognized for the solo work that I have done within my community, genre, and representing my family is a great feeling.”
In Ossé’s absence, the citation was presented to Gramps by Syntyche “Syn” Clarke, chief innovation officer (CIO) and DJ Roy, both of CaribStar radio, 103.5 FM HD3.
The presentation took place at The Crown Hill Theatre where Gramps performed at his first concert in Brooklyn since the untimely passing of his brother and Morgan Heritage’s lead singer Peetah Morgan in February.
Jamaican entertainment publicist Anthony Turner told Caribbean Life that Gramps delivered many of the solo hits he has amassed including “Positive Vibration,” “If You’re Looking For Me,” “Runaway Bay,” “Psalm 23,” “Wash Away The Tears,” and the emotional “People Like You.”
“A Gramps Morgan set would not be complete without ‘She’s Still Loving Me’ and ‘Down By The River’, which brought a Morgan Heritage type of a vibe and energy to the stage,” the New York-based Turner said.
“He showed musical agility with Otis Redding’s 1966 classic ‘These arms of mine,’” he added. “The musical tribute continued with ‘I’ll Do Anything For You,’ dedicated to family patriarch Denroy Morgan who passed away in 2022.
Turner said Gramps was joined by sons Priel and Jemere Morgan, who performed “Keep Blazing” and “Don’t Haffi Dread”, dedicated to his Uncle Peetah. Other performers included singer Dre Island and Ras Shiloh.
“Healing, healing is what Saturday night was about and not just for Gramps Morgan and his sons but for us lovers of reggae music,” Syn Clarke said.
“We watched Gramps allow tears to flow and pay tribute to his brother Peetah Morgan in what felt like a communal farewell to one of the greatest reggae voices of our generation,” she added. “The undying legacy of Morgan’s Heritage was also on full display with the talent of Jemere that shone brightly beside his father, along with the newest voice of the Morgan family Preil Morgan.
“Preil is clearly a superstar that the world will know soon,” Clarke continued.
