On a night hip-hop recorders attempted to change sexist stereotypes, Caribbean super-recorders Rihanna and David “Ziggy” Marley won the music industry’s highest by winning a Grammy award.
It was the Barbadian singer’s eight win since rapper Jay-Z introduced her to a world-wide audience. This year she won for in the best Urban contemporary category for her “Unapologetic” CD. Nominated twice, Rihanna lost out in the Best Pop Duo Performance where she collaborated with Mikki Ekko to sing “Stay.”
The eldest son of Rita and Bob Marley — whose family leads in tallying the most Grammy nominations and victories in the reggae category — claimed his third as a solo artist and sixth overall Grammy win when added to three others with collaborations with his brother and sisters. The 45-year-old heir to a reggae dynasty took home his latest for “In Concert” which was nominated in the Best Reggae Album category. He won his first solo Grammy in 2007 for “Love is my Religion.”
Three years later, the Jamaican singer/musician won a Grammy for Best Musical Album for Children with a recording titled “Family Time.”
With his 14-track album, recorded during his 2012 world tour, he equals the number his younger brother Stephen has accumulated.
Ziggy beat out popular drum and bass musicians Sly and Robbie’s release of “ The Jam Masters’ Reggae Connection,” Sizzla’s “The Messiah,” “One Love, One Life” by Beres Hammond, and a first, reggae-effort by hip-hop Snoop Dogg whose Snoop Lion moniker produced “Reincarnated.”
In previous years since 1984, Ziggy’s youngest brother Damian also two Grammy awards. His sisters Sharon and Cedella each won three Grammy honors collaborating as members of Ziggy Marley & the Melody Makers. Brothers Kymani and Julian have also been nominated for the coveted award.
Although Robert Nesta Marley, the avowed King of Reggae –– died in 1981 (three years before a reggae category was included) the legend was celebrated in 2001 with a Grammy Lifetime Achievement Award.
This year’s celebrated ceremony featured a mass wedding, which included same-sex couples which was officiated by rapper/ singer/actress and TV talk show host Queen Latifah.
On a night 100 million TV viewers reportedly watched the awards, 34 couples accepted wedding vows. The two achieving Caribbean music-makers were announced winners during the pre-telecast ceremony of the 56th annual Grammy awards held at the Staples Center in California.
