Etana's The Strong One is on the Shortlist for a Grammy Award

I just got an email this past Friday, announcing the current shortlist of reggae albums under consideration to be nominated for a Grammy. Surprisingly, one-time Fort Lauderdale resident, Etana, made the list due to her debut album, The Strong One, which was released earlier this year. Etana spent the bulk...

By Jonathan Cunningham

November 17, 2008

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I just got an email this past Friday, announcing the current shortlist of reggae albums under consideration to be nominated for a Grammy. Surprisingly, one-time Fort Lauderdale resident, Etana, made the list due to her debut album, The Strong One, which was released earlier this year.

Etana spent the bulk of her growing up years in South Florida, and attended Plantation High School. She's since left the States and now lives in Kingston, Jamaica, but it would still be great to see an artist who honed their singing skills locally win a Grammy, or at least be nominated.

Her style isn't straight ahead reggae but more like soulful crooning with a reggae groove underneath it. I've seen her perform live and she's one of the best pure singers that I've encountered in awhile. The Strong One deserves the recognition so hopefully, when the official Grammy announcements are handed down December 3rd, she'll make the list.

Below is a video for her hit song, "Roots" which is also on The Strong One.

-Jonathan Cunningham

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