Starlet Shontelle Layne will be the recipient of the 2011 Copyright Society of Composers and Publishers Foundation’s Award of Excellence.
At a press conference held at the Hilton Barbados, COSCAP Chairman Derek Wilkie confirmed the singer would be returning to Barbados to accept the award at the foundation’s second annual gala on April 23 at Hilton Barbados.
Wilkie stated that while it was a difficult task identifying one of COSCAP’s 780 members to reward this year, as no criteria was set in stone, the decision to chose Shontelle was because of the success she has received as a singer, songwriter and producer.
“This year, we have looked at the membership and realized we have some young people within the foundation who are excelling who are not on the lips of every Barbadian but they are excelling in the global mark, produce own music, 11 BMAs, producing with international songwriters, charted three times in the UK in the last 3 years,” he said before revealing the recipient’s name.
Shontelle has had two platinum singles “T-Shirt” and “Impossible”, and has written successfully for local and regional artists as well as international artists such as Rihanna. including having collaborated with internationally renowned and multi award-winning songwriter Diane Warren. Presently signed to Universal Motown, Shontelle has charted in the U.K. and the U.S., has toured with Beyonce and Jason Derulo, had her music featured in major motion pictures as well as having a song selected for the YES WE CAN compilation album for Barack Obama’s Presidential Campaign.
The Merrymen were the first awardees at the inaugural gala last year. The gala will also feature an eclectic array of music, with confirmed artistes including Vacant Head Space, Allison Norville-Forde, Simon Pipe, John King, Alex M and Arturo Tappin. (LW)
Source: BoyceVoice & BarbadosToday
