The artiste, whose real name is Winston Rodney, won the award for Jah Is Real, which was done on his Burning Music Production. He won the Best Reggae Album award in 1999 for Calling Rastafari.

"I am feeling great and I have been feeling good about the whole thing," Burning Spear told THE STAR.

"Finally, someone identify with what I am doing. Jah Is Real is dealing with quality. I know that it is a good album and the people who voted for it know that it is a good album. I am feeling happy and nice about the whole thing."

Significant

The other nominees in the category were Elephant Man, Sly and Robbie, Heavy D, Shaggy and Lee 'Scratch' Perry.

Burning Spear said this win was more significant than his previous one, because this was the first time an artiste with an independent reggae label had won the category.

"This is setting a strong standard in the reggae category. Show them that you don't have to go through a record company. This is a wake-up call for others who want to do things for themselves," said Burning Spear, who was just arriving at his home in New York yesterday from Los Angeles, where the Grammy Awards were held.

History

He said perhaps the most exciting part of the event was seeing some of the best-known foundation artistes in United States history. He saw acts such as Al Green, Paul McCartney and B.B. King.

This was Burning Spear's 12th nomination. Other albums he had been nominated for are Resistance, People of the World, Live in Paris Zenith '88, Mek We Dweet, The World Should Know, Rasta Business, Appointment with His Majesty, Calling Rastafari, Free Man, Our Music and The Burning Spear Experience.