Krista Henry, Staff Reporter

Six reggae/dancehall artistes patiently await the results of the 51st annual Grammy Awards, that will take place at the Staples Center in Los Angeles, California, tonight.

Renowned as the most prestigious music awards in the world, the Grammys are a dream for every artiste, producer, musician and composer.

This year breaks the reign of the Marley family at the Grammys, with brothers Stephen, Ziggy and Damian Marley having won the award over the last three years.

The nominees

Nominees this year include first-timer and the only dancehall act in the category, Elephant Man, with his Bad Boy Records-produced Lets Get Physical; 1999 winner Burning Spear is back for Jah Is Real; Jamaican-born rapper Heavy D for Vibes; and the enigmatic Lee 'Scratch' Perry, who won in 2002, for Repentance. The independent album Intoxication by Shaggy, who won in 1995, and Sly and Robbie's Amazing are the other nominations. Sly and Robbie are also previous winners, having won in 1998.

For most, tonight will be filled with excitement and anticipation, particularly Elephant Man. "It would mean a lot 'cause if you ask anyone, mi always a bring the energy, a jump and entertain di people," Elephant Man told The Sunday Gleaner in an earlier interview. "It would be di biggest achievement. Music carry me overseas and let me see di world; to have a Grammy unda my belt would be the best. No one can seh mi don't deserve it, 'cause even when mi tek weh miself or mi deh 'bout, mi always have good music."

Elephant Man also has the support of Shaggy, who said a win for 'Ele' would be good for the "in the streets" dancehall of Jamaica.

Amazing

Sly and Robbie's Amazing is a 16-track CD compilation of songs that features some of the island's leading singers and deejays, among them Pull Up Selector, featuring father and son Jimmy and Tarrus Riley; Dancing Idiot, featuring Elephant Man and Macka Diamond; Love Again, featuring Lukie D; Natty Dread, featuring Calibe, and I Shot the Sheriff, featuring Selah and Chantelle.

In an earlier interview, Sly said, "with the Grammy thing, we don't really look at it for the Grammy. We do music that makes people comfortable, so anybody who wins the Grammy we always respect them because we know they put out a lot of work. We always appreciate and respect anyone who wins the Grammy".