Another Jamaican recording artist also received an award posthumously. Sister Sharon Dyer-Sharpe won the award for Traditional Vocal Performance of the Year-Female for her rendition of the gospel classic “Can’t Even Walk” at this year’s Marlin Awards. This would make her second Marlin Award. She won in the same category during the 2006 Marlin Awards for her version of the traditional classic “Because He Lives”. The award was accepted by one of her long time friends and fellow recording artist Michael Reid. She had moved to US for sometime and was living in the New York Area. She died in 2007 of a Heart Attack.

Bahamian hip/hop recording artist Rashad ‘Mista’ Green who was a member of the Lion of Judah Sounds hip/hop outfit Da Squad, also won a posthumous Marlin Award this year for Hip/Hop Vocal Performance of the Year-Duo or Group for their remake of the James Cleveland classic “No Wayz Tired”. The song was a testimony of Rashad’s faith and strength during his illness and he was only able by the grace of God to record the first verse and the ad lips of the song several months before his death in 2007. His mother Mrs. Maria Green accepted the award along with other members of Da Squad. He was also a founding member of the Marlin nominated hip/hop duo Double D. Rashad’s brother, Monty G was also on hand during the ceremony.

Also according to reports Moses was not a licensed firearm holder and apparently fled the scene following the shooting. His body was found hours later with his right hand and leg broken. According to the website www.go-jamaica.com ” There is still uncertainty as to whether he fell while running or jumped to his death”. The site also indicated that “The police say no bullet wounds were found on his body” and that “A post mortem is to be conducted on February 10^th to determine the cause of death”. Moses wife was also expected to give a formal statement to investigators on matters relating to her husband’s death.

According to Marlin Awards President Kevin Harris ” We were all shocked to learn of the death of Moses who was just beginning to ignite a creative spark in the world of dancehall gospel. Moses contribution in both the secular and gospel music industry was invaluable. Though many may consider his time in the music ministry short, I believe that beyond his death and through his lyrics and music, he will continue to touch lives with the gospel of Christ.

On behalf of the Executive Board and Committee of the Marlin Awards as well as all of our nominees, speakers and presenters, I would like to officially offer our condolence to the family of the late Kasim ‘Moses’ Grant”.

Moses was nominated for three (3) Marlin Awards last year including Culture Recording of the Year for “Feels It Knows It”, Deejay Vocal Performance of the Year-Solo for “Thunder Roll” and for Pop/Rock Recording of the Year for “I Ain’t Scared (with Jai).

Winners will be announced during this year’s Marlin Awards, which will serve as the final event during Marlin Weekend 2009, scheduled to be held March 26-29 in Nassau, Bahamas under the banner “Gospel in Paradise”. This event is expected to attract hundreds of recording artists, songwriters, producers, managers, retailers, radio announcers and music fans from throughout the Caribbean as well as from the United States, Africa, Canada and Europe.

For additional information contact Harris Communications at 242-327-1251. You can also email us at marlinawards@gmail.com or visit us online at www.marlinawards.com or www.myspace.com/marlinawards.

The executive board of The Marlin Awards has announced that they will release a series of Marlin Award Compilation CD’s in time for Marlin Weekend 2009 scheduled for March 26-29 in Nassau, Bahamas. This will mark the first time the Marlin Awards has ever released any compilation CD and these multi-cultural albums will feature music from many of the regions top gospel artists. The first two albums the Marlin Awards will release are “Marlin Nominees 2008 Vol. 1″ & “Marlin Nominees 2008 Vol. 2″.

According to Awards President Kevin Harris, the release of these projects will assist the awards in its vision of creating and expanding the platform for exposure of Caribbean Gospel Music. “We believe that these albums and others in the future will only serve to help solve a long outstanding gap that exists between the artist, radio, retail and the consumer. This will also allow us in a consolidated format to be able to package and present to the region and the rest of the world the top nominated songs from the Caribbean on two well packaged CD’s. When you really break it down this is also a great cost effective way of promoting these artists and their songs because If we had to service the amount of radio stations and Dee-Jays who request copies of all of the nominated songs from us, this would be virtually impossible considering that we have fifty-eight (58) categories and over one hundred nominees this year. These albums will make it easier to say “here is a sample of what we have to offer as a region” and it is much more cost effective to ship or mail two CD’s to a radio station than say 50 or more albums” says Kevin Harris.

The Marlin Awards will also release two other compilation CD’s of past winning and nominated songs called “Marlin Hits 2004″ and “Marlin Hits 2006″. Both projects are also scheduled to be released sometime in 2009.