Teino Evans, Staff Reporter

Orville 'Shaggy' Burrell receives his Order Of Distinction in the rank of Commander (CD) from Governor-General Professor Kenneth Hall at the Ceremony of Investiture and Presentation of National Honours and awards 2007 at the National Indoor Sports Centre, yesterday, National Heroes Day. - Ricardo Makyn/Staff Photographer

Twelve musicians and entertainers were honoured by The Jamaican Government, yesterday, Heroes Day, for their contribution to entertainment.

The 12 were honoured with the Order Of Distinction in the rank of Commander (CD) and the Order Of Distinction in the rank of Officer (OD) at the Ceremony of Investiture and Presentation of National Honours and Awards, held at the National Indoor Sports Centre, St. Andrew.

They were recognised for their outstanding work and for their contribution to music locally and internationally.

Those honoured with the Order Of Distinction in the rank of Commander included Orville Richard 'Shaggy' Burrell, who was honoured for his contribution to the music industry, and Clement Seymour 'Sir Coxone' Dodd, who was honoured post-humously for his service to the Jamaican music industry. The award was collected by his wife.

Byron Aloysius St. Elmo Lee, who was unable to attend the ceremony because of illness, was also honoured for his contribution. his award was collected by his son.

50 years in the business

Clarence Linberg 'Count Prince' Miller received the OD for contribution to music and the international entertainment industry for over 50 years, while Norman Frederick Rae accepted his award for contribution to the development of the Jamaican theatre and for public service. Arthur Stanley 'Duke' Reid also received a post-humous award for service to the Jamaican music industry.

Shaggy told The Gleaner following the awards that for the first time in many years, he was nervous.

"Me is a man wey nuh normally get nervous pon nutt'n, but mi get nervous dis morning. An jus fi get recognise fi what yuh do ... is probably one of the best awards mi get wey mi feel good. An fi si sey me, at such a young age can deh inna di same company like a Burning Spears, weh mi feel fi him, it did long overdue, and Sir Coxone Dodd was also honoured and man like Luciano, it was a great feeling," Shaggy said.

And those honoured with the Order of Distinction in the rank of Officer were Ewart 'U-Roy' Beckford, for contribution to the development of Jamaican Music for over 40 years; Dr. Carlene Dorothea Davis-Cowan, who was honoured for contribution to music and community development; Jepther 'Luciano' Washington McLymont, for contribution to reggae music; Theodore Miller, for contribution to Jamaican music; Johnny Arlington Moore, for pioneering work in popularising Jamaican music, and Winston 'Burning Spear' Rodney, for contribution to the development of Jamaican music and culture.

Young and prime

"I feel honoured to know that the people really accept my contribution and show some appreciation yuh nuh. I give thanks that they acknowledge me yuh nuh and they don't wait until my teeth dropping out my head, or mi grey up. They give me when I'm young and prime and ready to take on some new ventures in the business," Luciano said when The Gleaner contacted him.

"That is a good sign yuh nuh - cause a jus 15 years mi in the business and it's really a great achievement after 15 years, it's a very good achievement, I'm very proud of it," Luciano said.

When contacted, Dr. Carlene Davis said, "as a family, we just finished praying and we're giving thanks because it's really a humbling feeling. It's based on a work of distinction and coming from the head of the country, it speaks volumes to the work that I have done. So it's truly humbling and appreciated and it's also an encouragement to me and the rest of the persons in the music industry, but all honour to God, because it is He who initiated it all and we just followed through."

Mrs. Dodd, who collected the post-humous award on behalf of her late husband, said, "I'm overwhelmed with proudness, his work was well recognised and for everything he did with the younger artistes then like Ken Boothe, the Marleys, Bob Andy - all of them came from that stable - I'm very grateful for it. If he was alive, he would be well pleased and I know he is looking down, he is well pleased. And I was really proud to see the Burning Spear, he too came out of our stable."