‘This is my Grammy moment’

Dancehall artiste Mr Vegas readily admits that he is from that era when it was the desire of every aspiring artiste to “buss big, mek Mama proud and buy her a house”. His dream did come true, and on Monday he dedicated his Order of Distinction (OD) to his late mother, Lucille Ellis.

“Yes man, I am definitely one of those artistes. I remember where we coming from, how my mother used to just walk and wash people clothes ... and I used to be there just rinsing the clothes dem, too. We went to the river, and she would be there all day just washing people clothes so we could eat,” Mr Vegas said of his early days in Lawrence Tavern.

“My mother did it with pride, and if she were here and you were to ask her if she would do it again, she would say yes. She wouldn’t have done it differently. Because yuh know what? My mother taught us to appreciate what we have. So even when we start to have money, we still down-to-earth. So, I dedicate this OD to her,” Mr Vegas said.

Mr Vegas’ mother passed away in September 2014.

He added that his father was also an important part of his journey. He recalled visiting his father as a child and getting money from him to play the jukebox.

“He had jukeboxes, and we were in a bar. I played Whitney Houston’s Greatest Love of All, and when my father heard me singing along, he started to cry. And he said to the whole bar, ‘A mi son, yuh know. Him going to be a star!”

Standing beside Mr Vegas was his brother Carlton Smith, founding member of legendary reggae group the Tamlins. He and Carlton share the same father, and Vegas was quick to show his respect for his older brother.

“My father … that’s where the music and the singing coming from … that is the legacy. Carlton is a perfectionist, so sometimes some people hear mi as an extreme perfectionist; a Carlton it a come from him. ‘Cause when mi a sing and it [is] not on point, Carlton will seh, ‘Yow, yuh a sing outta key’,” Vegas recalled with a laugh.

“But mi tek that correction wid joy, fi know seh him set mi straight from early on.”

Carlton Smith said he was “very proud of [his] little brother” and shared how impressed Sly Dunbar was with a young Vegas when he carried him to the studio.

“Yuh see the perfection that he has, that is my guidance, but he has the range, and he was always a ‘wicked’ singer. I knew he would go far in the music business,” Carlton Smith said.

Reflecting on the Order of Distinction, awarded “for contribution to dancehall and reggae music”, Mr Vegas said he was “feeling elated”.

“I remember the early days in the music, and I was able to run this race with decency and pride and respect for the music. It is an overwhelming feeling to be here getting this prestigious acknowledgement in my lifetime,” the I Am Blessed singer said.

“I didn’t have my heart set on this particular situation. I always wanted to win the Grammy, and when I won the MOBO Award in 1999, that was something that I felt excited about. But when I got the call for this OD ... bwoy, this is my Grammy moment.”

yasmine.peru@gleanerjm.com