Icon Award for Morgan Heritage at Grand Gala

Grammy Award-winning sibling group Morgan Heritage is delighted to be the recipients of a national honour, which will be officially bestowed on them at the Grand Gala on Independence Day, August 6, at the National Stadium in Kingston.

Culture Minister Olivia Grange made the announcement on Tuesday night while attending the Miss Jamaica Festival Queen coronation show at the National Stadium.

Morgan Heritage will be presented with the ministry's Music Icon Award, which has been bestowed on artistes such as Toots Hibbert, Freddie McGregor, Marcia Griffiths, Damian 'Jr Gong' Marley, and Sanchez. Gramps Morgan told THE STAR that he and his sister and brothers were "overwhelmed".

"Words could never be enough for this moment. Myself, Una, Peetah, Lukes and Mojo Morgan are so grateful for this honour. We have worked in this industry, representing reggae music worldwide, always with our country on our back and our culture ... even the times when it was hard and nobody knew our music. So to get to such a point now to be recognised by our country and Government, it's just overwhelming," Gramps said.

The son of patriarch, Denroy Morgan, Gramps shared that he had only one regret.

"I really wish my father was here to witness this honour, but I know he's looking down from Heaven, and he is very proud to know that we are being acknowledged in this way," the singer, who was recently crowned King of Country Reggae, said.

Morgan, the elder statesman of Rastafari and reggae, died at his home in Lawrenceville, Georgia, on March 3, 2022.

Gramps continued, "We will continue to represent reggae music out of Jamaica globally, and pray our country and our people support us in the years to come. Jah love, and we say Heritage 4 Life."

Formed in 1994, Morgan Heritage made their first appearance at Reggae Sunsplash in Jamaica and were subsequently signed by MCA. They released their debut album Miracles that same year. The group recently made a triumphant return to the Reggae Sumfest stage two weeks ago, after a 10-year hiatus.

The Grand Gala, which is scheduled to begin at 5:30 p.m. on Sunday, will culminate activities celebrating Jamaica's 61st anniversary of Independence, under the theme 'Jamaica 61: Proud and Strong'.

The organisers say that, similar to last year, there will be hundreds of drones hovering in perfect harmony and forming breathtaking visuals of the national symbols and cultural icons.

Lenford Salmon, executive director of the Jamaica Cultural Development Commission, said that this year's show "is going to be fantastic" and different.