Leroy Sibbles Award Highlights

Leroy Sibbles is one of the founders of reggae music. Born in Kingston, Jamaica Leroy began his career as the lead singer of the rock steady group, The Heptones. While playing with The Heptones, he recorded many classic reggae tunes including Party Time, Fatty Fatty, Book Of Rules, Baby Be True and Heptones Gonna Fight. Leroy also played an integral role in the creation of many of the famous ‘Studio One’ rhythm tracks frequently sampled and re-recorded today. He wrote and arranged many of the early ‘classics’ as well as played bass and provided harmony.

Leroy moved to Toronto in the mid-70’s where he lived for 20 years. During his residence, Leroy helped establish reggae music in Canada and was often described as ‘the Godfather of reggae in Canada’ and the ‘sweetest singer in the business’. He also released 6 solo albums while residing in Toronto. They are: Now, Strictly Roots, On Top, The Best (Micron Music), Meanwhile (Attic) and Evidence (A&M).

Leroy returned to Jamaica in 1994 and is now based there. Since his return he has been touring extensively in the Caribbean, United Kingdom, Japan and the United States. He has also released two new CD’s entitled It’s Not Over (1996) and Rock and Come On (1999, a compilation from previous hits) as well as a dozen new singles including his latest I Cried. His new work illustrates once again, Leroy’s unique ability to create fresh and exciting music with a ‘timeless’ quality. He has also co-authored tunes with the current reggae sensations: Buju Banton and Beenie Man. When you see Leroy perform it is immediately evident that you are in for a treat. His mastery of the stage is second to none in the business. He has the unique ability to engage audiences of all age groups and his repertoire of hits spans four decades.

PRESS HIGHLIGHTS

Leroy Sibbles delivered with his series of hits including ‘Party Time’, ‘Come With Me’ and ‘Book of Rules’ and had the crowd both young and old rocking and grooving’. (Jamaican Gleaner)

“Leroy Sibbles was commanding as usual. Pitching memory trackers such as Party Time, Sea Of Love, Fatty Fatty and Book Of Rules Sibbles pocketed a double encore. (Jamaican Observer)

“Last Saturday Sibbles clad in a short-sleeved ganzie and grey pants had almost everyone singing along with him. If you were at the National Arena earlier this year when Sibbles performed at the Mother’s Day Show you would have known why he is so dynamic Sibbles….” (Star Entertainment – Jamaica)

“… with the crowd hugging the stage, Sibbles had something for everyone: songs from his Heptones days; some Bob Marley; some Ken Lazarus; top forty tunes done ‘in ah Rockers style’; and of course a number of his latest hits…..Sibbles gave the large crowd reason to keep calling for more…..” (Contrast – Toronto)

“Sibbles…..voice is such a smooth tenor…..and he is a veteran in a field of usually younger men. But his sweet voice and wealth of experience help give a form to a performance that, in the hands of a lesser performer, becomes little more than background for dancing.” (The Globe and Mail – Toronto)

“a…..great number of the most seminal bass lines in Jamaican music are the work of one man, Leroy Sibbles…. For a number of years, Sibbles composed the ‘riddims’ that backed the most influential hits and artists in Jamaica. This makes Sibbles a true giant in Jamaican music, equal in stature to Bob Marley. Whatever advances the Wailers have made for the vocal consciousness of reggae, Sibbles has done at least as much for the musical development of the music’s most important instrument. He brought much of his African heritage as a ‘West Indian’ to the Jamaican bass style. As one man, he is really a bridge between Afro-Jamaican and Afro-American musical values. (Reggae International – by Stephen Davis, Peter Simon)

AWARD HIGHLIGHTS

2002 Order Of Distinction (O.D.) Jamaican Government
2000 Caribeean Canada Pagent Lifetime Achievement Award
1999 Canadian Reggae Music Awards: International Award Of Merit
1997 CVMTV Awards: Outstanding Contribution To The Development Of Jamaican Music
1997 12th Annual Binns Music Awards: Vintage Artist Of The Year
1997 JCDC National Song: Toots Hibbert Trophy Best Performer
1995 10th Annual Binns Music Awards: Top Vintage Performer
1991 New York Reggae Music Awards: Best Comeback Artist
1990 New York Reggae Music Awards: Bob Marley Achievement Award
1990 Canadian Reggae Music Awards: Best Video (Eyes Like Fire)
1990 Canadian Reggae Music Awards: Best Songwriter
1988 Canadian Reggae Music Awards: Reggae Merit Award
1987 Canadian Reggae Music Awards: Peter Tosh Award
1987 Canadian Juno Awards: Best Reggae Album
1986 Canadian Reggae Music Awards: Top Album (Meanwhile)
1986 Canadian Reggae Music Awards: Top Performer Male
1986 Canadian Reggae Music Awards: Top Songwriter
1986 Canadian Reggae Music Awards: Top Singer Male
1986 Canadian Black Music Awards: Album Of The Year (Meanwhile)
1985 Canadian Reggae Music Awards: Top Performer Male
1984 Canadian Reggae Music Awards: Top Performer Male
1984 Canadian Reggae Music Awards: Top Album (On Top)
1984 Canadian Reggae Music Awards: Top Singer Male
1983 C.F.N.Y. UKnow Awards: Male Vocalist Of The Year
1982 Canadian Black Music Awards: Album Of The Year (Evidence)
1982 Canadian Black Music Awards: Top Male Singer
1982 Canadian Black Music Awards: Top Bass Player
1982 Canadian Black Music Awards: Top Bass Player
1982 Canadian Black Music Awards: Performer Of The Year
1982 Canadian Black Music Awards: Member To The Hall Of Fame
1980 Canadian Black Music Awards: Top Reggae Producer
1980 Canadian Black Music Awards: Top Male Vocalist
1980 Canadian Black Music Awards: Top Reggae Album
1979 Canadian Black Music Awards: Special Award Recipient
1979 Canadian Black Music Awards: Top Male Vocalist

Photo & text courtesy of Eppic Music Publishing & Entertainment.

SOURCE: http://www.reggae-vibes.com/profiles/leroysibbles/leroysibbles.htm

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