DAMIAN “JR. GONG” MARLEY WINS TWO GRAMMY AWARDS
(NEW YORK, NY –
February 9, 2006) With the kind of critical acclaim rarely bestowed on
any artist, an opening slot on the biggest tour of the year, multiple
television appearances, a record breaking sales debut, and
certification as Gold (500,000 copies sold), one might be tempted to
look at what Damian “Jr. Gong” Marley has already attained with his
heralded Tuff Gong/Universal Records album Welcome To Jamrock. Last
night Marley added to the long list of accomplishments two Grammy
Awards. Marley won the Grammy for Best Reggae Album and the Grammy for
Best Urban/Alternative Performance.
With two Grammy Awards, a
performance on Jimmy Kimmel Live set for tonight (February 9th,) a new
single and video hitting this month (“Beautiful” featuring Bobby Brown)
and a hefty slate of concerts appearances coming together in the
Europe, Australia, Japan and the U.S., including appearances at
Bonnaroo and Coachella, “Jr. Gong” and his record label are putting a
huge, worldwide push behind the second phase of what is certainly the
most praised and respected reggae music effort to be released in recent
memory.
2005 was a great year for Damian. When his album
was released in September, it attained Number 7 on the sales charts,
making it the biggest opening for a Reggae artist in history (Sean Paul
now holds the record). Welcome To Jamrock also received unparalleled
critical acclaim right out of the box, making the album a rare
commercial and critical success. Both Spin and Rolling Stone put the
track in their year-end Top Ten. The New York Times called “Welcome To
Jamrock” “a contender for Reggae Song of the Decade.” New York Magazine
named “Welcome To Jamrock” Best Single of 2005. Entertainment Weekly
gave the album an A- and said the “Bob’s youngest updates the family
legacy (impeccable reggae arrangements, political vision) with limber
rhymes and urgent dancehall beats.”
“Welcome
To Jamrock” rose out of Kingston to become the undisputed street hit of
2005, an anthem in American cities all across the country. The track
got the attention of rock superstars U2, who enlisted Marley to open on
15 sold out dates of their Number One U.S. tour. Marley was also
honored by Vibe Magazine with the “Boomshot” Award for Jamrock at their
annual televised awards show last fall.
The strong radio and
street profile, a video on multiple video channels, performances on a
multitude of latenight outlets and a slew of solid roadwork, have all
helped to propel Jamrock to Gold status. With so many exciting events
and performances on the horizon for “Jr. Gong,” the best days for
Marley’s Jamrock are undoubtedly yet to come.
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