Andre Jebbinson, Staff Reporter
Left: DJ Nicholas with his award for Artiste of the Year. Center: Papa San collects his award for Video of The Year. Right: Terry Ann Wedderburn, the winner of the Gospel Star competition. - PHOTOS BY RICARDO MAKYN/STAFF PHOTOGRAPHER.
IT WAS deejay heaven at the Maja Awards on Sunday night as hot-stepping gospel artistes Bless and DJ Nicholas stole the spotlight. Bless, a.ka. Prodigal Son, lived up to his name by walking away with the Album of the Year for his knockout work Still Standing, while breakout deejay Nicholas copped the Artiste of the Year award.
Popular reggae outfit Katalys Crew was tops in the 'Song of the Year' category for Can't Take My Lord.
Some of the other top awards for the night went to perennial favourites Stitchie, Best DJ; Chevelle Franklyn, Female Vocalist; and Junior Tucker, Male Vocalist.
After a one-hour delay, the Maja Awards made its Jamaican debut at the Hilton Kingston hotel on Sunday. Some of the biggest local gospel entertainers turned out to witness and be a part of the inaugural international staging of the event.
The awards show was started in Canada by the Jamaican-born Fitzroy Gordon. "I am so happy in taking the Maja's to the country of my birth. I always wanted to make a significant contribution and I thank God for giving me this wealth called the Maja Awards to share with my people," Gordon said.
He said he recognised that there were a lot of young people who wanted something do in their spare time. Gordon said that young artistes have been leaving church choirs to join the secular music world. "Many were complaining and I decided to do something about it so I started the Maja."
REASONABLE REWARD
Although the turnout for the event was mediocre, that did not dampen the spirit. It was a night of emotions, merriment, solemnity and jubilance all in one. In her opening remarks, co-host Samantha Gooden noted that the awards are set to reward Jamaica's finest for all the work they have done on behalf of the Lord.
The first award went to Robert and Jenieve Bailey in the 'Duets or Groups of The Year' category.
A gracious Sir Howard Cooke, former Governor-General of Jamaica, was also present to receive the first Public Service award. There was an emotional reaction to the mention of the ailing Rev. David Keane, senior pastor at Family Church on the Rock, who suffered a stroke in 2003.
He was the recipient of the long service and dedication to gospel music and the lifetime achievement awards.
In collecting the award, his wife Paulette expressed gratitude for the prayers on her husband's behalf.Move over Rising Stars and American Idol, the Gospel Star competition took centrestage when the nine contestants bellowed notes that got higher and better as the competition progressed. Terry Ann Wedderburn outdid her rivals with a poetic version of More Than an Ordinary Servant.
Also rocking the house was the young trio, Levy's Heritage. The youngsters won the heart of the audience with Hold Me Close in the junior section.
The judges were caught between a rock and a hard place when the little man with an extraordinary voice, Lennox Forbes, bedazzled the audience with Eye on the Sparrow.
Papa San was the top performer of the night with roof-raising renditions of Breathe Again and Pop Style.
The young and the old were on their feet as the top Jamaican gospel deejay delivered his set. DJ Nicholas and Kerron Ennis also brought praises with Holy Ghost Church.
Audience members enjoy one of the performances at the Maja Awards. - PHOTO BY RICARDO MAKYN/STAFF PHOTOGRAPHER.
