Inaugural Reggae Gathering 58th Grammy Awards

Commentary and Analysis by Mitch Santell

The magic was in the air on Sunset Blvd., on Sunday February 14, 2016! It was the very first Reggae Gathering of all the nominated Reggae Artists together under one roof. The evening was so much fun as there is a tremendous sense of community among Reggae artists.

---

---

Each and every Valentine's Day we will forever remember that in 2016 was the launch of The Reggae Gathering. It is with great excitement and enthusiasm that we share the official press release from the event.

---

The Inaugural Reggae Gathering - Grammy© Nominee Party is a worldwide gathering and celebration of Reggae; melding timeless, upcoming and nostalgic acts, with rooted, captivating innovators and leading music industry executives, who continue to evolve its steadfast movement, along with enthusiastic fans who support the genre.

This premier “all-inclusive guest policy” pre-Grammy® event, held in the heart of Los Angeles, was created to embody the quintessential representation and celebration of the industry and it’s nominees through an on-point and uplifting gathering of genre specific industry executives, brimming with live music and live painting experience, paired with authentic Caribbean delicacy’s and a limited-host full bar and a star-studded patrons.

The innovators and experts in the genre, as well as both established and up and coming talent will be in full throttle with Morgan Heritage, Leon, Jovi Rockwell, DJ Gramps Morgan, DJ Delano Renaissance Sound, DJ Westafa, The Los Angeles Reggae AllStars and other surprise acts to be announced. Trinidadian artist Pasco The Great, will execute a live painting showcase. Event hosts of the inaugural gathering will feature executives from some of the most profound labels, management and publicity firms, as well as key media, distribution and brands; all taking place under one exhilarating pre-Grammy© roof.

---

Mitch Santell at The Reggae Gathering (58th Grammy Awards).

---

The gathering was very special for me as a music and radio producer. Why? My answer is that Reggae has a grounded authentic feel that other forms of music simply don't have.

More from the press release:

---

Morgan Heritage, the Royal Family of Reggae behind international acclaim has been nominated for the Best Reggae Album category at the 58th Annual GRAMMY© Awards for their 2015 album Strictly Roots. To commemorate, the inaugural Reggae Gathering GRAMMY© nominee celebration, will be held on February 14, 2016, at Los Globos, located at 3040 West Sunset Blvd in Los Angeles, California.

The celebration is set to begin at 8pm with live painting by Trinidadian artist Pasco The Great and live performances from Morgan Heritage/58th GRAMMY Nominee, Leon, Jovi Rockwell, DJ Gramps Morgan, DJ Delano Renaissance Sound, DJ Westafa, The Los Angeles Reggae AllStars, special guest Hirie, and other surprise acts to be announced. The night will be topped off with authentic Caribbean delicacies and a limited-host full bar.

Editing note: It is exciting to announce that Morgan Heritage did win the Grammy Award for Best Reggae Album in 2016.

---

Reggae Album of the year for 2016 was awarded to Morgan Heritage

---

“Celebrating the history and continued growth of reggae and its steadfast accomplishments through this event, alongside the talent and movers and shakers in the genre, is simply a natural progression in the movement,” says event host Tanya Moore. “It’s called unity in community!”

The event line-up is brimming with talent, featuring live music by GRAMMY nominees Morgan Heritage, Leon, Jovi Rockwell, DJ Gramps Morgan, DJ Delano Renaissance Sound, DJ Westafa, The Los Angeles Reggae All-Stars and more, as well as a live painting showcase by Trinidadian artist Pasco The Great.

Select hosts for the inaugural event include:
• Shaggy, a.k.a. Mr. Boombastic / Ranch Entertainment
• Eric Kohler – AEG Live
• John Rollins – President/Magazine Consulting Team & Founding Publisher of Vibe
• Clifton “Specialist” Dillon – Shang Records
• Matt and Jon Phillips – Silverback Management
• Pat McKay – SiriusXM Radio
• Morgan Heritage – 58th Grammy Nominee
• Lukes Morgan – Ineffable Music Group
• Eddie Donaldson and James Marland – The Grow Division
• “Native Wayne” Jobson – Indie 103.1 Radio
• Rocky Dawuni – Artist/58th Grammy Nominee
• Dana Shayegan – Collective Digital Studio
• Richard Lue – VP Records Group
• Cary Sullivan – Rocky Dawuni/Afro Funke’/Boom Yard
• Sire Dhone Johnson – RHA/ RSPK/Los Globos
• Tanya Moore – Moore Media/ Moore CEG
• Buppy Brown – Artist -Brown2Music Records
• Junior Francis – The Reggae Show
• Larry Little – Fortress Music/ Resident DTLA
• Leon- Actor/Musician – Leon and The Peoples

---

It was a very exciting evening. My partner and Director of Programming at Big Reggae Mix (Scott Brown) also attended the star-studded event and loved the sense of community there. The Global Healing has truly begun. Irie!!!

---

Scott Brown, Director of Programming for Big Reggae Mix

---