New York, NY (Top40 Charts ) Several music stalwarts and contributors to the entertainment industry including Miss Pat Chin, founder of VP Records; Jazz Great Monty Alexander; Michael "Ibo"
Cooper and Ian &
Roger Lewis were recently honored by the
Jamaica College Old Boys Association, NY (JCOBANY) at their
Silver Anniversary Awards Gala in Queens, New York at the posh LaGuardia Plaza Hotel.
Ian and
Roger Lewis, co-founders of Grammy Award winning Inner Circle, best known their crossover hit 'Bad Boys,' the theme song of the long running Fox TV reality series Cops were honored with the 'Distinguished Alumnus Award.' Bad Boys was a #1 Billboard hit song that has sold over 7 million copies worldwide.
Ibo Cooper, co-founder of Reggae Ambassadors Third World and Monty Alexander, who has built a career exploring and bridging the worlds of American Jazz, popular song and the music of
Jamaica were also the recipients of 'Distinguished Alumnus Awards.'
Miss Pat Chin, who helped to create a reggae empire at VP Records and contributed to the careers of countless Jamaican superstars including Shabba Ranks, Sean Paul, Maxi Priest, Gyptian, Beenieman, Lady Saw, Mavado, Lady Saw and others was presented with the 'Community Leadership Award,' while Stephen Hill, co-founder and CEO of Caribbean International Network (CIN TV), which offers a full slate of programs including news, sports, drama and music shows in the ti-state area was presented with the 'Trailblazer Award.'
"We celebrate the amazing stories of our eminent honorees, whose lives and achievements are a well of inspiration, a beacon of light, hope and joy in these unsettled times" Michael McDonald, President of the JCOBANY said in his remarks.
The crowd was entertained by Ibo Cooper, who along with cello musician Gjilberta Lucaj, did a special musical tribute to former Deputy Prime
Minister of
Jamaica and JC Alumnus Seymour "Foggy" Mullings, who passed away in 2013. Foggy, as he was called in music circles, was not just an exemplary politician but was a pianist and a classical jazz musician who in the 1960's, frequently performed with other jazz groups of the day including Wilton Gaynair
All Stars which featured the legendary Don Drummond.
Among those attending the sold out event were Keynote speaker Hon. Lisa Hanna; Consulate General of Jamaica, New York Herman LaMont; Michael McDonald, President of the JCOBANY; Board Member Dr Dwight Williams and Randy & Chris Chin, executives of VP Records.
