“JR. GONG EARNS IT…I CELEBRATE WITH HIM” SAYS FREDDIE McGREOR AFTER MARLEY’S GRAMMY WIN!

Veteran reggae singer Freddie McGregor said he is celebrating with Damion ‘Jr Gong’ Marley on his Grammy award win yesterday.

The Rastafarian singer emerged winner of the Best Reggae Album category for the album Stony Hill at the awards held at Madison Square Garden in New York.

“I really celebrate the win because Jr Gong did not win because his surname was Marley but because he had a really strong album. The Grammy is not just about the album but also the technical sides and Gong is a very seasoned artiste,” he said.

Eight weeks @ No.1

The other nominees in the reggae category were Chronology by Chronixx (considered by some to be the people’s favourite), Avrakedabra by Morgan Heritage, Lost in Paradise by Common Kings and Wash House Ting by J Boog.

“I would have liked if Chronixx had won because Jr Gong won before but I am still satisfied with the result. There was a level of excitement  when the nominations came in last year which was a very refreshing change. Both Jr Gong and Chronixx put up a good fight,” said McGregor.

The reggae legend stated that although Chronixx did not take home the Grammy, he was still a winner.

“It is truly a win for Chronixx as he did do a lot in such a little time. He is young and I am really looking forward to seeing him making a lot more great albums in the future but cheers to Jr Gong. No one can complain about him winning because he was a Marley,” he said.

Album Of The Year

In 2016, McGregor lashed out boldly and expressed his displeasure at the annual picks for the Best Reggae Album category at the Grammy Awards.

However, he and other Jamaican music dignitaries gave the ‘thumbs up’ when the nominees were announced last year.

The Grammy Awards ceremony was the 60th in its history, but the reggae category was conceptualised in 1984.

Black Uhuru won the first reggae Grammy the following year.