Howard Campbell, Gleaner Writer

( L - R ) Marley and Dekker - file photos

REGGAE PIONEERS Bob Marley and Desmond Dekker, who were once apprentice welders at the same west Kingston shop, will be honoured by the Recording Academy next month when their songs, One Love and Israelites, will be inducted into the Grammy Hall of Fame.

The announcement was made recently by Neil Portnow, president of the Recording Academy.

"This year's Grammy Hall Of Fame inductees spotlight a diverse array of masterpiece recordings that have had a profound impact on our musical history," Portnow said in a statement.

Lean On Me by Rhythm and Blues singer Bill Withers, London Calling by punk icons, The Clash, Whole Lotta Love by hard rockers Led Zeppelin and Irish singer Van Morrison's Brown Eyed Girl, are the other inductees this year.

This is the third straight year a Marley song has been selected for the Grammy Hall of Fame. In 2006, his 1977 album Exodus was inducted; his classic song, No Woman No Cry, recorded in 1973, was recognised last year.

Song of the Millenium

One Love, which was influenced by Curtis Mayfield's People Get Ready, was selected by the British Broadcasting Corporation, as its Song of the Millenium.

Marley, who died from cancer in 1981, was awarded a Lifetime Achievement Award at the 2001 Grammy Awards.

Dekker, who died last May, recorded Israelites in 1968 with his backup group, The Aces. It made the charts in Great Britain and the United States.

Interestingly, two of the other honourees have some links to reggae. The Clash have worked with legendary producer, Lee 'Scratch' Perry, while Brown Eyed Girl has been covered by British group Steel Pulse.

The Grammy Hall of Fame was established in 1973 by the Recording Academy. It recognises songs 'of lasting qualitative or historical significance' that were recorded 25, or more, years before.

Some of the most influential songs, and performers, in various forms of music have been cited for their endurance. Among the pop albums and songs in the Hall of Fame are The Beatles' Abbey Road, Blowin' In The Wind by Bob Dylan, and Simon and Garfunkel's Bridge Over Troubled Waters. The 49th Grammy Awards will be held February 11 in Los Angeles.