Reggae icon Beres Hammond to obtain honorary diploma from College of the West Indies
The College of the West Indies (UWI) Mona Campus has spotlighted reggae luminary, Beres Hammond, putting him alongside Rita Marley and Jimmy Cliff.
This November, they’ll collectively signify a triad of music legends, every honored with UWI honorary levels.
Between November 3 and 4, the UWI’s esteemed commencement ceremony on the Mona Campus in Kingston will unfold.
Hugh Beresford Hammond, O.J., is about to be considered one of 4 Jamaicans introduced with honorary levels.
The remaining laureates comprise the late entrepreneur Lascelles Chin, Ambassador Audrey Marks, and educational virtuoso, Professor E. Dale Abel.
Why Beres Hammond?
Recognizing his exceptional contribution to the Jamaican music scene, UWI acknowledged Hammond’s charming “smoky-sweet voice” that has regaled audiences over his expansive five-decade journey.
His musical odyssey spans from his dynamic performances with the Nineteen Seventies fusion band ‘Zap Pow’ to the rhythmic cadences of his 1985 dancehall sensation, “What One Dance Can Do.”
Musical milestones
Diving deeper into his creative saga, the UWI launch chronicled Hammond’s development from humble expertise present performances to his first musical debut, “The Wanderer”.
So far, this reggae stalwart boasts a formidable discography, encapsulating 22 solo albums.
Praising his unparalleled dedication, UWI make clear his distinctive compositional type, emphasizing his constant deal with sound high quality. This very trait magnetizes Jamaica’s musical elites to his dwelling studio.
2002’s “Music Is Life” stands out in his glittering profession. Nominated for a Grammy for ‘Greatest Reggae Album’, it showcased two of Hammond’s most cherished tracks: “Rock Away” and “They Gonna Discuss”.
January 1, 2023, marked one other milestone when he collaborated with the celebrated Buju Banton, staging considered one of Jamaica’s monumental stay concert events at Plantation Cove, St. Ann.
Extra on Beres Hammond
Echelons of excellence
In 2015, Rita Marley, a vital determine within the reggae universe and Bob Marley’s widow was additionally acknowledged with a UWI Honorary Physician of Letters.
Her multifaceted roles – from singer to entrepreneur – have been integral to amplifying Model Jamaica on the worldwide entrance. Jimmy Cliff, one other reggae sensation, equally obtained the college’s coveted recognition.
Marking 75 years of UWI’s legacy
This honorary custom aligns with UWI’s seventy fifth jubilee celebrations.
By way of this gesture, the college celebrates luminaries like Hammond for his or her profound affect on communities and broader societies. This 12 months’s ceremony will function a ceremony of passage for a whole lot of graduating college students throughout the UWI’s expansive campus community.
An odyssey of accolades
Beres Hammond’s recognition by UWI is the newest in an in depth collection of accolades.
In 2013, the Jamaican Authorities honored him with the Order of Jamaica.
Quick ahead a decade, and Brooklyn’s Councilwoman, Yvette Clarke, celebrated his musical genius in New York.
Lately, in August 2023, the Jamaican Museum and Cultural Middle in Atlanta, Georgia, lauded his soulful contributions to music.
The Elite Icon Award by the Caribbean Music Awards is the freshest feather in an already illustrious cap.
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