Jamaica Music Greats to Be Honoured at 2026 Ceremony

KINGSTON, Jamaica — Some of the most influential names behind Jamaica’s global music legacy will take centre stage on September 15, when the Excellence in Music Ceremony 2026 brings together performers, musicians, producers, songwriters and engineers for an evening dedicated to recognising their contributions to internationally celebrated recordings.

Richie Stephens, Gregory Isaacs, Glen Washington, Dalton Browne, Dean Fraser, Clevie, Agent Sasco, Chevelle Franklyn, Christopher Birch, Gitsy Willis, Noel Davey, Robert Livingston, J Capri and Steely are among the extensive list of honourees announced for the sixth staging of the ceremony at The Courtleigh Auditorium in New Kingston. The official programme is scheduled to begin at 7 p.m.

Organised by Back 2 Da Future Music Limited in collaboration with Royalty Network Inc., the event was formerly known as the Grammy Certificate Ceremony. Its evolution into the Excellence in Music Ceremony reflects a broader mission: documenting and celebrating the often-overlooked creative professionals whose work has helped Jamaican and Caribbean music achieve international success.

This year, honourees will receive recognition connected to Grammy-winning and Grammy-nominated recordings, with Grammy Certificates being presented alongside British Phonographic Industry (BPI)-certified Silver, Gold, Platinum and multi-Platinum discs.

Among the standout honourees is veteran musician Dalton Browne, who is set to receive 11 Grammy Certificates and a BPI-certified Silver disc. His recognition spans decades of guitar, production, composition and vocal work on projects involving Beres Hammond, Buju Banton, Jimmy Cliff, Luciano, Wayne Wonder and other major reggae acts.

Saxophonist Dean Fraser, another cornerstone of Jamaican music, will receive two Grammy Certificates and three BPI-certified discs for musical contributions associated with recordings by Burning Spear, The Wailers Band, Lauryn Hill and Maxi Priest.

The late Gregory Isaacs will be recognised with seven Grammy Certificates and two BPI-certified Silver discs. The honours acknowledge the Cool Ruler's work as a performer, guest artiste and songwriter across several important reggae projects, adding another chapter to the documentation of his enduring international legacy.

Richie Stephens will receive five Grammy Certificates and three BPI-certified discs connected to projects involving Beenie Man, Bounty Killer, Rihanna, Drake and Soul II Soul, illustrating the reach of Jamaican creative talent well beyond records traditionally classified as reggae or dancehall.

Producer and musician Clevie, one half of the influential production duo Steely & Clevie, will receive three Grammy Certificates recognising his work as a producer, musician and drum programmer. His late musical partner Steely is also among the honourees and will receive BPI-certified Platinum recognition connected to Dawn Penn's enduring reggae classic No No No.

Several other honourees demonstrate just how deeply Jamaican music personnel have contributed to recordings that crossed genres and international markets.

Agent Sasco is set to receive two Grammy Certificates and a BPI-certified Platinum disc connected to internationally recognised projects including Sean Paul's Live N Livin and Kendrick Lamar's To Pimp a Butterfly. Christopher Birch will receive two Grammy Certificates and a BPI-certified 3x Platinum disc for work connected to projects involving Bunny Wailer, Sean Paul and Shaggy.

Gitsy Willis will receive two Grammy Certificates and five BPI-certified discs for contributions linked to recordings by Bad Bunny, Chaka Demus and Pliers and Simply Red. Chevelle Franklyn will receive Silver and Platinum BPI-certified discs connected to Shabba Ranks' “Mr Loverman” and Chaka Demus and Pliers' Tease Me.

The recognition also reaches into contemporary pop and hip-hop. Dancehall veteran Flourgon is listed for a BPI-certified 2x Platinum disc connected to Miley Cyrus' “We Can't Stop,” while Reggie Stepper will receive a BPI-certified Gold disc connected to Kanye West, Big Sean and Pusha T's “Mercy.”

Aidonia will receive Platinum recognition connected to will.i.am featuring Cody Wise's “It's My Birthday,” while Delly Ranx will receive a BPI-certified 3x Platinum disc connected to Sean Paul's landmark Dutty Rock album.

The ceremony will also recognise contributors whose work has sometimes occurred outside the spotlight. Noel Davey is scheduled to receive three Grammy Certificates for keyboard, piano, synthesizer, audio production and additional production contributions, while Roland McDermott will receive four Grammy Certificates recognising executive production and engineering work associated with projects by Capleton, Julian Marley and Jah Cure.

Other Grammy Certificate recipients include Glen Washington, Brian Gold, Heather Cummings, Hopeton Lindo, Teetimus, Tony Gold and Wrong Move.

The BPI honouree list further includes Ansel Collins, Chester Walker, Ma-Isheeba, Neville Hinds, Robert Livingston and Seanie T, highlighting a broad range of recordings that have achieved significant commercial certification in Britain.

The late dancehall singer J Capri will receive posthumous BPI-certified Silver recognition connected to “Whine & Kotch,” her popular collaboration with Charly Black. Her inclusion is particularly significant as the ceremony seeks not only to celebrate current contributors but also to formally document the achievements of Caribbean creatives whose influence continues after their passing.

Kennedy Mensah, founder of Back 2 Da Future Music Limited, said the breadth of the honouree list demonstrates how much of Jamaica's international musical success depends on a creative ecosystem extending far beyond the name appearing at the top of a record.

“This line-up shows the real depth of Jamaica's contribution to global music,” Mensah said. “When people hear a great record, they may remember the lead artiste first, but behind that record are musicians, writers, producers, engineers, harmony singers, featured artistes and creative minds who helped make the music what it became.”

Mensah said the ceremony is designed to bring those contributions into clearer view and ensure that the people responsible are properly documented.

“The Excellence in Music Ceremony is about documenting those contributions properly and giving these individuals their night in the spotlight,” he added.

Mensah also announced that a special award will be presented to Anthony Brightly of Black Slate, adding another element of legacy recognition to the September ceremony.

The BPI disc component was introduced on a smaller scale in 2025 before being expanded through subsequent presentations, including recognition for Robert Browne at the organisation's Florida staging in January 2026. This month's Kingston ceremony will significantly broaden the BPI presentations.

That expansion is important because the story being told by the Excellence in Music Ceremony goes beyond awards. Collectively, the honourees illustrate how Jamaican creative talent has travelled through reggae, dancehall, pop, R&B, hip-hop and Latin music, sometimes appearing in places where the Caribbean connection may not immediately be obvious to listeners.

It also draws attention to an enduring issue within the music industry: the difference between being heard and being recognised.

Jamaica's international music reputation has traditionally been built around its biggest performers and genres, but producers, instrumentalists, engineers, composers, backing vocalists and other contributors have played equally important roles in turning Jamaican musical ideas into records heard by millions around the world.

By placing Grammy Certificates and international sales certifications directly into the hands of those contributors, the Excellence in Music Ceremony is attempting to make that history more visible.

For its 2026 staging, the event will therefore serve as more than an awards presentation. It will bring Jamaica's musical heritage into conversation with international certification, publishing and music-industry networks while creating a space where the people behind some of the Caribbean's most consequential recordings can receive recognition in their own country.

When the honourees gather at The Courtleigh Auditorium on September 15, the spotlight will not belong only to the stars audiences already know. It will also belong to the musicians, writers, producers, engineers and creative professionals whose names may be less familiar—but whose fingerprints can be found across decades of Jamaican music heard around the world.