Buju Banton has been nominated for Grammy four times, but this is his first win
FLORIDA, United States, Monday February 14, 2011 – Reggae singer Buju Banton yesterday won his first ever Grammy, less than 24 hours before he appears in court today for the start of his retrial on drug charges.
Buju, whose real name is Mark Myrie, won Best Reggae Album for ‘Before The Dawn’ – his ninth studio album – which was released in September last year while the singer was still in prison.
Buju was meeting with his legal team, to prepare for today’s trial, when the news broke.
The Jamaican artiste has been nominated for Grammy four times, but this is his first win.
He won the award over other reggae legend Gregory Isaacs who succumbed to liver cancer last October; Andrew Tosh, the son of another late reggae great Peter Tosh; and Sly and Robbie and the Family Taxi; and Bob Sinclair and Sly and Robbie.
Today, Buju will face four charges in his retrial, twice the number he answered during his first drug trial in September last year. The additional charges are contained in a new indictment which was filed by the prosecution after the mistrial.
The previous counts were conspiracy to possess with intent to distribute cocaine, and aiding and abetting the possession of a firearm during a drug-trafficking offence.
The four he faces today are conspiracy to possess with the intent to distribute cocaine; attempted possession with the intent to distribute cocaine; possession of a firearm in furtherance of a drug-trafficking offence; and using the wires to facilitate a drug-trafficking offence.
If he’s found guilty, Buju could spend 20 years in prison.
