International reggae act Damian 'Jr Gong' Marley bagged his fourth Grammy Award after he was announced winner of the Best Reggae Grammy category yesterday. Marley won for his Stony Hill album released last year.
Challenging Marley's Stony Hill album in the Reggae category were Chronology by Chronixx; Avakedabra by Morgan Heritage; Lost in Paradise by Common Kings; and Wash House Ting by J Boog.
Gong's Stony Hill album has been having a good run since it was released and shows no sign of slowing down. Although it is currently number six on the Billboard Reggae Charts, it peaked at number one a few weeks ago and is celebrating 26 weeks on the charts.
The Grammy Awards ceremony started almost 60 years ago, but the Reggae category was conceptualised in 1984. Since the category's inception, Ziggy Marley, Bob Marley's eldest son, has won five solo Best Reggae Album Grammy Awards. Ziggy has also won three Best Reggae Album Grammys with the Melody Makers - a group that included his brother Stephen and sisters Sharon and Cedella. Stephen Marley is himself a six-time Grammy award winner as an artiste, producer, and member of Ziggy Marley and The Melody Makers.
In addition to Stony Hill, Gong also got Grammy wins for Half Way Tree in 2002 and Best Reggae Album and Best Urban/Alternative Performance for Welcome to Jamrock in 2006.
Jr Gong is also up for both Entertainer of The Year and Best Album for Stony Hill at the upcoming International Reggae and World Music Awards.