Mr. Vegas Leads The IRAWMA's With 6 Nominations

Nominees for the 2013 Annual International Reggae and World Music Awards (IRAWMA) were officially released last week. Leading the list of nominees are Mr. Vegas with six, Damian Marley five and Sean Paul, Konshens, Romain Virgo and Third World with four, Jimmy Cliff, Marcia Griffiths, Tarrus Riley and Busy Signal all sharing three nominations. The complete list of nominees can be viewed at irawma.com

Some 200 reggae and world music industry individuals, groups and others received nods, and the winners will be announced at the star-studded staging of the 32nd annual IRAWMA scheduled for Saturday, May 4th, 2013, at the prestigious Coral Springs Center for the Arts, in Coral Spring, Florida,

In the Bob Marley Entertainer of the Year category, the contenders are Jimmy Cliff, Damian Marley, Third World, Roman Virgo, Sean Paul, Tarrus Riley and Stephen Marley. Snoop Dogg-Lion was nominated in 3 categories, namely: Best Crossover Song “La-La-La”, Best Music Video “La’La’La” and Best Hip Hop/R&B Entertainer.

The 2013 Lifetime/Hall of Famers are Derrick “Ducky” Simpson – Black Uhuru, Denver “JAMUSA” Silvera, Edward Seaga, Lloyd “Joe Fraser” Campbell and Inner Circle. Martin’s International-IRAWMA Award of Honor will be presented to producer Donovan Germain, event marketing specialist Carson “Eddy” Edwards, controversial radio host Bevan “Duke of Earle” Earle and promoter Arthur Lugisse.

South Florida-based Willie Lindo, Winsome Charlton and Vonnie McGowan will also be recognized for their more than 40 years of contribution to the music industry. Six special categories were added for the best in the South Florida music industry for 2012, which also include those who have made extra-ordinary contributions to the Florida entertainment industry.

The public will now have a final say in selecting the winners by submitting their votes online or through the mail. All mail-in ballots should be post dated no later than April 10, 2013, which is the official deadline for voting. Mail-in ballots deadline from outside the United States is April 2nd, 2013.