Clive Hunt elated at Grammy consideration for ‘Fields of Gold: Reggae Tribute to Sting’
Published:Monday | October 6, 2025 | 12:10 AM
Top-notch reggae producer Clive Hunt is pleased that he has landed a Grammy consideration nod for his stellar work on the album Fields of Gold: A Reggae Tribute to Sting.
“It is awesome ... awe and some ... to make the list for Grammy consideration,” an enthusiastic Clive Hunt said.
British singer and bass player Gordon Matthew Thomas Sumner, known as Sting, was the frontman for rock band The Police from 1977 until their breakup in 1986. He has enjoyed a successful solo career since.
Artistes featured on the tribute album are Maxi Priest, The Elovators, Steel Pulse, Groundation, Third World, Kumar, J Boog, Richie Stephens, ALA.NI, Jack Radics, Big Youth, The Skatalites and Renae & Jermi. The Fields of Gold album showcases reggae versions of some of Sting’s popular songs.
“It is early days yet, but you have to pass the first round to get to the second round. I have never really taken these sort of accolades seriously, but as I have grown older, I have learned to appreciate recognition of my work. Big up to all those who have submitted and been recognised thus far, people like Lila Iké, Black Pearl, Sizzla, and others who I have seen on the various social media platforms. Best of luck to all who have made it this far and it is great being one of those illustrious persons under Grammy consideration for their work this year,” Hunt said.
The first round of voting for the 2026 Grammy Awards ends on October 15, after which Recording Academy members will finalise the list of official nominees to be revealed on November 7.
A total of 73 albums have been submitted for consideration in the Best Reggae Album category for the 2026 Grammy Awards. Among the submissions are 450’s Pieces of Me; Cham’s Sherlock; Charly Black’s Good Times; Craigy T’s Unload; Ding Dong’s From Ding Dong to the World; Keznamdi’s Blood & Fyah; Lila Iké’s Treasure Self Love; Valiant’s Prove Them Wrong; Versi’s P.V.O. (Portland’s Very Own); Likkle Addi’s Time is Now; Vybz Kartel’s Heart & Soul; Pool Party by Konshens, Ghetto Reggae by Mr. Vegas; International by Skillibeng, and Hate Being Famous by Squash.
Highly motivated
In a previous interview, Hunt had said he was highly motivated to throw himself into this project with gusto because of his admiration for Sting.
“From the first time we discovered the Police, I loved them a whole lot, and Sting being an English youth, who grew up in an era where ska and reggae was a big part of the scene in the ‘60s and ‘70s. He is a great songwriter and a great musician. I have always liked his tremendous catalogue of music and I wanted to do his songs over in a reggae style,” Hunt said.
Hunt eventually teamed up with US-based indie label, Ineffable Records, whose top executives loved the idea and bankrolled the project.
Hunt, who is now 73, first learned the rudiments of music in the early 1960s while a ward at the Stony Hill Approved School for boys. He continued to develop as a multi-instrumentalist in the Jamaica Military Band and began recording professionally in 1972. He eventually became one of the top session players in Jamaica, as well as a trumpeter in the Jamaica Philharmonic Symphony Orchestra.
Hunt’s reputation grew and he worked on the internationally successful I Can See Clearly Now for Jimmy Cliff; the Steely and Clevie remake of You Don’t Love Me (No, No, No) for Dawn Penn, and was employed by veteran rockers the Rolling Stones. Hunt also produced a number of singles with Beres Hammond, including fan-favourite, Putting Up Resistance.