Original Coverage & Source Attribution: www.jamaicaobserver.com
Burning Spear.
A two-time winner of the Best Reggae Album Grammy Award, Burning Spear has been nominated for that category 13 times. His Call On Me (Live) is among the 119 albums being considered for nomination at next year’s ceremony.
The Recording Academy, organisers of the Grammys, will announce the five nominees on November 16. Earning a 14th nod would be special for the legendary singer-songwriter, who won in 2000 and 2009 with Calling Rastafari and Jah is Real, respectively.
“It would be an awesome deal if we make the final cut. This album is very personal to us,” said Patricia Elliott, a member of Spear’s management. “The album was made to bring awareness to dementia which Mrs Rodney is afflicted with.”
Elliott told Observer Online that Sonia Rodney, Spear’s wife, was diagnosed with dementia four years ago at age 62. She was the 82 year-old roots artiste’s manager for many years and oversaw his Burning Music Productions.
The New York-based Elliott, who is Sonia’s sister, said Burning Spear is his wife’s caregiver.
It was Elliott who suggested the concept for Call On Me (Live) which was released in April. It hears Spear collaborating on a live track of one of most famous songs with acts such as Alpha Blondy, Jesse Royal, Julian Marley and Luciano.
“I presented it to Spear and he did not hesitate. The 15 other artistes on the album had no hesitation once we explained the purpose of the album,” Elliott disclosed. “All for charity. They assumed the costs for their contributions. We don’t have enough words of gratitude to express our gratitude.”
Call On Me (Live) was recorded while Burning Spear was on tour with Ziggy Marley in 2025. That song was originally recorded in 1974 as Call On You, produced by Clement Dodd for Studio One.
The following year, he recorded the powerful Marcus Garvey with producer Lawrence “Jack Ruby” Lindo. Distributed by Island Records, that set is an homage to the Pan African icon, and is one of reggae’s greatest albums.
Burning Spear was first nominated for Best Reggae Album in 1986 for Resistance. His previous nod came in 2024 for No Destroyer.
